Amsterdam Red Line protest draws more than 200,000 over Israel policy
More than 200,000 people marched through Amsterdam on Sunday in a large Red Line protest calling for tougher Dutch action against Israel. Demonstrators demanded tighter trade restrictions and a halt to all arms sales, according to one of the organisers. Many wore red clothing as they moved through streets that were closed to traffic for the march.
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The Dutch branch of Amnesty International said the turnout exceeded 200,000 people. Protesters chanted support for Palestinians and voiced anger over the war in Gaza, which they described as inhumane. One marcher said the authorities were doing nothing and were not taking serious steps, reflecting the pressure the demonstration placed on the government.
The protest comes amid continuing strain in relations between the Netherlands and Israel over the war. The Dutch foreign minister resigned last year after failing to secure new sanctions against Israel, and a new minority coalition government took power in February. That government later introduced an import ban on products from Israeli settlements, a move that prompted a diplomatic dispute with Israel.
The march also follows earlier Red Line demonstrations in the Netherlands. Similar protests were held in Amsterdam in early October last year, while another Red Line demonstration took place in The Hague in June. The repeated mobilisations suggest that opposition to the government's approach has remained active and organised over time.
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Prime Minister Rob Jetten said on Friday that his administration was exerting greater political and diplomatic pressure on Israel to abide by its agreements on Gaza. He also said the government was doing what it could every day and every week to ease the situation. He was not present at Sunday's march, although he had taken part in a protest last year.
What remains unclear is whether the latest demonstration will lead to any immediate policy change in The Hague. The government has already taken some steps, but protesters are pressing for stronger trade and arms measures. The scale of the march suggests the issue is likely to remain a significant domestic and diplomatic pressure point in the weeks ahead.
