Tens of thousands of protesters marched through The Hague on Sunday, urging the Dutch government to adopt a firmer stance against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Oxfam Novib, the organizing body, estimated that approximately 100,000 individuals participated in the demonstration. A majority of protesters were dressed in red, symbolizing their call for a “red line” against the ongoing siege of Gaza, where access to medical supplies, food, and fuel has been severely restricted.
The march also proceeded past the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where South Africa has filed a case accusing Israel of genocide. The ICJ previously ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
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Israel has refuted the genocide accusations as unfounded, maintaining that its operations in Gaza are acts of self-defense targeting Hamas militants responsible for the October 7th attacks.
Oxfam Novib has criticized the Dutch government for allegedly overlooking war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, and called on protesters to demand a more assertive response.
While Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp recently expressed his desire for the EU to re-evaluate its cooperation agreements with Israel, the Dutch government has largely avoided strong condemnation. Geert Wilders, leader of the largest party in the governing coalition, has consistently voiced strong support for Israel.
Wilders has publicly criticized the protesters, labeling them as “confused” and accusing them of supporting Hamas in posts on social media platform X.