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Nahar Net
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Huge turnout at second Dutch protest seeking government action against Israel
by Naharnet Newsdesk 16 June 2025, 12:19 Tens of thousands of demonstrators in the Netherlands donned red clothing and marched Sunday to protest the Dutch government's policy toward Israel, exceeding the turnout for a similar event in May. Protesters walked a 3-mile (5-kilometer) loop around the center of The Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to draw to halt Israel's campaign in Gaza. "I don't want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there and I want to speak out," protester Marin Koning told The Associated Press. The human rights groups and aid agencies — including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders — that organized the march estimated the peaceful crowd at more than 150,000 people. Local media put the numbers closer to 100,000. In neighboring Belgium, around 75,000 people, many of them also clad in red, hit the streets in the capital Brussels, police said. Several rallies have been held to draw attention to Israel's actions in Gaza, but Sunday's was the biggest rally so far. The Dutch protest sent a "clear signal," according to Marjon Rozema of Amnesty International Netherlands. Dutch officials must "act now, at both the national and international level, to increase the pressure on the Israeli government," she said in a statement. As during the first Red Line protest in May, the march took the crowds past the Peace Palace, headquarters of the United Nations' International Court of Justice, where last year judges ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel strongly denies that it is violating international law in Gaza. The event takes place weeks after the country's ruling four-party coalition collapsed, leaving the Netherlands with a caretaker government when it hosts a summit of NATO leaders at the end of June. Hamas started the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, with militants killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. The militants still hold 53 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead but doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The European Union's top diplomat, meanwhile, convened an emergency meeting of the 27-nation bloc's foreign ministers on Tuesday to discuss the conflict between Israel and Iran. The meeting, to be held via video link, "will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views, coordination on diplomatic outreach to Tel Aviv and Tehran, and possible next steps." EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas's office said Sunday. "We will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to find a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue which can only be through a negotiated deal," it said.
Euronews
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Huge turnout at 'red line' protests for Gaza in Brussels and The Hague
Tens of thousands of demonstrators in The Hague donned red clothing and marched to protest the Dutch government's policy toward Israel on Sunday. It was the second time the so-called "Red Line protest" took place in the Dutch political capital, exceeding the turnout for a similar event in May. Protesters walked a 5-kilometre loop around the centre of The Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to draw to halt Israel's campaign in Gaza. The human rights groups and aid agencies — including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders — that organised the march estimated the peaceful crowd at more than 150,000 people. Local media put the numbers closer to 100,000. 'I don't want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there and I want to speak out,' said protester Marin Koning. In neighbouring Belgium, at least 75,000 people, many of them also clad in red, hit the streets in the capital Brussels, police said. Organisers estimated the crowd at 110,000. Several rallies have been held to draw attention to Israel's actions in Gaza, but Sunday's was the biggest rally so far. The Dutch protest sent a 'clear signal,' according to Marjon Rozema of Amnesty International Netherlands. Dutch officials must 'act now, at both the national and international level, to increase the pressure on the Israeli government,' she said in a statement. Outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof responded to the protest in a post on X. "We see you and we hear you," he wrote, adding that "our eventual goal is the same: to bring an end as soon as possible to the suffering in Gaza." As during the first Red Line protest in May, the march took the crowds past the Peace Palace, headquarters of the United Nations' International Court of Justice, where last year judges ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel strongly denies that it is violating international law in Gaza. Several UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations have accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza, including ethnic cleansing. Experts at the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory said in a report this week that Israel committed the crime against humanity of "extermination" by killing civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites. Amnesty International concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza in a report published in December. The war began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Hamas took 251 people as hostages, and is currently holding 53 of them, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. A subsequent Israeli offensive has to date killed more than 55,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry whose figure does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. The figures are repeatedly cited by international institutions, such as the UN. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Greenland is 'not to be sold' nor 'to be taken' in a key visit Sunday to the strategic Arctic territory coveted by US President Donald Trump, saying he's conveying a message of French and European solidarity. Macron expressed strong criticism of Trump's intention to take control of the territory. "The situation in Greenland is clearly a wakeup call for all Europeans. Let me tell you very directly that you're not alone," Macron said during a press conference. "And when a strategic message is sent to you, I want just for you to know that it's clearly perceived by the Europeans as targeting a European land. And this flag you have here is our common flag," he added. Sunday's symbolic stop to Greenland comes as the French leader is on his way to a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations in Canada that will be also attended by Trump. Macron was greeted in Nuuk, the territory's capital, by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. Asked whether France would be ready to militarily support Greenland if Trump was to decide to invade, Macron declined to discuss the hypothesis. 'I won't start elaborating on 'what if' scenarios publicly,' he said. 'Because I don't believe that in the end, the US, which is an ally and a friend, would ever do something aggressive against another ally.' The French president has positioned himself as a leader in Europe amid Trump's threats to pull support from Ukraine as it fights against Russia's invasion. Macron hosted a summit in Paris with other European heads of state to discuss Kyiv, as well as security issues on the continent. On Sunday, Macron, Frederiksen and Nielsen held a meeting on a Danish helicopter carrier, showing France's concerns over security issues in the region. Macron also called for more joint military exercises with Nordic and Baltic countries, Canada, and even the United States, aimed at strengthening security in Greenland and across the Arctic region. All three then headed to a fast-melting glacier where they watched the consequences of climate change. The visit also allowed them to discuss economic development, low-carbon energy transition and critical minerals. 'It's a strange time for us in Greenland,' Nielsen said. 'We live on some democratic principles built up for many years: respect for international law, respect for borders, respect for law of the sea, and we are glad you could stand with us to state that those principles are very very important.'
21 hours ago
- Politics
Huge turnout at second Dutch protest seeking action against Israel
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Tens of thousands of demonstrators in the Netherlands donned red and marched on Sunday to protest the Dutch government's policy toward Israel, exceeding the turnout for a similar event in May. Protesters walked a 3-mile (5-kilometer) loop around the center of The Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to set to halt Israel's campaign in Gaza. 'I don't want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there and I want to speak out,' protester Marin Koning told The Associated Press. The human rights groups and aid agencies — including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders — that organized the march estimated the peaceful crowd at more than 150,000 people. Local media put the numbers closer to 100,000. The protest sent a 'clear signal,' according to Marjon Rozema of Amnesty International Netherlands. Dutch officials must 'act now, at both the national and international level, to increase the pressure on the Israeli government,' she said in a statement. As during the first Red Line protest in May, the march took the crowds past the Peace Palace, headquarters of the United Nations' International Court of Justice, where last year judges ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel strongly denies that it is violating international law in Gaza. The event takes place weeks after the country's ruling four-party coalition collapsed, leaving the Netherlands with a caretaker government when it hosts a summit of NATO leaders at the end of June. Hamas started the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, with militants killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. The militants still hold 53 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead but doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. ___
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Huge turnout at a second Dutch protest seeking government action against Israel
Tens of thousands of demonstrators in the Netherlands donned red and marched on Sunday to protest the Dutch government's policy toward Israel, exceeding the turnout for a similar event in May. Protesters walked a 3-mile (5-kilometer) loop around the center of The Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to set to halt Israel's campaign in Gaza. 'I don't want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there and I want to speak out,' protester Marin Koning told The Associated Press. The human rights groups and aid agencies including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders that organized the march estimated the peaceful crowd at more than 150,000 people. Local media put the numbers closer to 100,000. The protest sent a 'clear signal,' according to Marjon Rozema of Amnesty International Netherlands. Dutch officials must 'act now, at both the national and international level, to increase the pressure on the Israeli government,' she said in a statement. As during the first Red Line protest in May, the march took the crowds past the Peace Palace, headquarters of the United Nations' International Court of Justice, where last year judges ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel strongly denies that it is violating international law in Gaza. The event takes place weeks after the country's ruling four-party coalition collapsed, leaving the Netherlands with a caretaker government when it hosts a summit of NATO leaders at the end of June. Hamas started the war with its October. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, with militants killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. The militants still hold 53 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead but doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.
San Francisco Chronicle
21 hours ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Huge turnout at a second Dutch protest seeking government action against Israel
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Tens of thousands of demonstrators in the Netherlands donned red and marched on Sunday to protest the Dutch government's policy toward Israel, exceeding the turnout for a similar event in May. Protesters walked a 3-mile (5-kilometer) loop around the center of The Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to set to halt Israel's campaign in Gaza. 'I don't want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there and I want to speak out,' protester Marin Koning told The Associated Press. The human rights groups and aid agencies — including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders — that organized the march estimated the peaceful crowd at more than 150,000 people. Local media put the numbers closer to 100,000. The protest sent a 'clear signal,' according to Marjon Rozema of Amnesty International Netherlands. Dutch officials must 'act now, at both the national and international level, to increase the pressure on the Israeli government,' she said in a statement. As during the first Red Line protest in May, the march took the crowds past the Peace Palace, headquarters of the United Nations' International Court of Justice, where last year judges ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel strongly denies that it is violating international law in Gaza. The event takes place weeks after the country's ruling four-party coalition collapsed, leaving the Netherlands with a caretaker government when it hosts a summit of NATO leaders at the end of June. Hamas started the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, with militants killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. The militants still hold 53 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead but doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. ___
