In brief
A massive “Red Line” demonstration in Amsterdam on Sunday saw roughly 200,000 participants urging the Dutch government to heighten pressure on Israel over Gaza. The protest remained largely peaceful, though four arrests and sporadic clashes with police were reported. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and Prime Minister Rob Jetten both responded, reaffirming commitments to a two‑state solution while noting measures against illegal settlements.
On Sunday, a pro‑Palestinian protest in Amsterdam drew about 200,000 people, demanding the Dutch government intensify pressure on Israel over Gaza. The march, called the “Red Line”, saw demonstrators in red clothing carrying Palestinian flags and banners that called for stronger political, economic and diplomatic action.
The demonstration stayed largely peaceful, but police records noted four arrests and sporadic clashes along the route. The Dutch Foreign Minister, Tom Berendsen, said on social media that public concern over the situation in the Palestinian territories and Israel was understandable. He added that the cabinet remains committed to "promoting stability in the Middle East, improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and achieving a viable, democratic and independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel."
Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who had previously joined a Red Line protest, said at a press conference that his role as prime minister made his participation inappropriate. He added that the government had taken measures targeting illegal settlements in the West Bank and was working with European partners to step up diplomatic pressure, insisting that a two‑state solution was the only path to lasting peace.
In late September, the Dutch government announced a ban on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories; Israel responded by revoking the diplomatic privileges and immunities of Dutch diplomats based in Ramallah.
Other reports, such as those from the Times of Israel, describe the protest as involving tens of thousands of people. These accounts emphasize the red clothing and the slogan ‘Stop the genocide’ but do not provide a precise headcount, differing from the 200,000 figure reported by Xinhua.
