Tens of thousands of demonstrators, many clad in red, filled the streets of Amsterdam on Sunday to condemn the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza. They carried signs with messages such as “Stop the Genocide,” calling for immediate international intervention.
According to organizers, approximately 20,000 participants joined the “red line” protest, urging the Dutch government to take decisive action against Israel in response to the conflict.
“Stop sending weapons to Israel,” said Steven Eisinger, a 33-year-old robotics engineer originally from the United States, who wore a red scarf as a symbol of solidarity. He emphasized his personal stance: “As a Jewish individual with family in Israel, I want to clearly state my support for Palestine and my opposition to genocide.”
The protest occurred against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that took effect in October 2024, following two years of conflict ignited by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Despite the ceasefire, a severe humanitarian crisis continues in Gaza, exacerbated by frequent Israeli airstrikes and escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
The Netherlands has not recognized the state of Palestine, distinguishing itself from other European nations like France and Belgium. Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who previously attended a similar protest during his 2025 parliamentary campaign, stated on Friday that it would now be “inappropriate” for him to participate.
In late September, the Dutch government implemented a ban on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, which are considered illegal under international law. In retaliation, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar revoked the accreditation of Dutch diplomats.
Additionally, the Netherlands has withdrawn from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, with public broadcaster NPO citing the “sensitive” nature of Israel’s participation in the event.
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