More than 100,000 demonstrators filled the streets of The Hague, demanding the Netherlands halt support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and act decisively against what protesters and human rights groups call genocide.

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On May 18, the city of The Hague witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of solidarity with the Palestinian people, as over 100,000 protesters marched through the Dutch capital. Dressed in red to symbolize the “red line” crossed by Israel in Gaza, demonstrators called on the Dutch government to end all political, economic, and military support for Israel amid ongoing accusations of genocide and systematic human rights violations in the Gaza Strip.

Protesters Demand Dutch Action Against Israeli Aggression

The demonstration, described by organizers as the largest in the Netherlands in two decades, was coordinated by a broad alliance of international and local NGOs, including Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders.

Protesters marched from Malieveld to the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Israel stands accused of genocide. Chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” and “Starving people is a crime” echoed through the city center, reflecting outrage at the ongoing blockade and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Speakers at the rally emphasized the Dutch government’s continued support for Israel through trade privileges, defense treaties, and the supply of weapons, despite binding ICJ orders demanding Israel halt genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. “The time for words is long gone, it is time for action,” declared the Dutch chapter of Oxfam, denouncing the government’s refusal to draw a clear line against Israeli war crimes.

Humanitarian Crisis and International Complicity

Human rights organizations and left-wing political voices have consistently condemned Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as a disproportionate and punitive assault on a trapped civilian population. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed tens of thousands, displaced 85% of Gaza’s population, and destroyed much of the enclave’s infrastructure, according to UN and Palestinian sources.

Protesters in The Hague highlighted the Dutch government’s silence and inaction, arguing that continued support for Israel makes the Netherlands complicit in the ongoing genocide.

The left has long argued that Israeli military actions in Gaza, regardless of stated intentions, inevitably result in mass civilian casualties and destruction, fueling further instability and extremism in the region. As the host country of both the ICJ and the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Netherlands faces mounting pressure from its own citizens and the international community to uphold human rights and international law.

The massive mobilization in The Hague sends a clear message to European governments: stop being complicit in genocide and act in defense of justice for the Palestinian people. Protesters demanded an immediate end to Dutch support for Israel and called for meaningful action to halt the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. As the world marks the anniversary of the Nakba, the voices from The Hague echo a growing global demand for accountability, justice, and real solidarity with Palestine.

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