Tens of thousands rally in Dutch Gaza protest
Rights groups such as Amnesty International and Oxfam organised the demonstration through the city to the International Court of Justice, creating a so-called "red line".
Many waving Palestinian flags and some chanting "Stop the Genocide", the demonstrators turned a central park in the city into a sea of red on a sunny afternoon.
Protesters brandished banners reading "Don't look away, do something", "Stop Dutch complicity", and "Be silent when kids sleep, not when they die".
Organisers urged the Dutch government -- which collapsed on June 3 after a far-right party pulled out of a fragile coalition -- to do more to rein in Israel.
"People in Gaza cannot wait and the Netherlands has a duty to do everything it can to stop the genocide," they said in their call to action.
Dodo Van Der Sluis, a 67-year-old pensioner, told AFP: "It has to stop. Enough is enough. I can't take it anymore."
"I'm here because I think it's maybe the only thing you can do now as a Dutch citizen, but it's something you have to do," she added.
A previous protest in The Hague on May 18 drew more than 100,000 people, according to organisers, who described it as the country's largest demo in 20 years.
Police did not give an estimate for that demonstration.
The Gaza war was sparked by the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
That assault resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.
The militants also took 251 hostages, of whom 54 are still thought to be held in Gaza, including 32 the Israeli military has said are dead.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 55,207 people, the majority of them civilians.
The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
The International Court of Justice is currently weighing a case brought by South Africa against Israel, arguing its actions in Gaza breach the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.
Israel strongly rejects the accusations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Houthis threaten to target US ships in the Red Sea if they participate in any attack on Iran
Yemen's Houthi's said they will target US ships in the Red Sea if Washington participates in any potential attack against Israel in co-operation with Israel, the group announced on Saturday. "We will target US ships and battleships in the Red Sea if Washington participates in theattack on Iran," the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement published by the group's media outlet. Saree emphasised that the group is closely monitoring movement in the region, including what he described as "hostile movements," and will take the necessary measures to protect itself. The group considers any potential Israeli attack on Iran to be aimed at "removing Tehran as an obstacle to an Israeli plan to dominate the region," Saree said, adding that the group will not allow this plan to be implemented. The remarks come a day after the US imposed new sanctions targeting key economic entities linked to the Houthi group. It also comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran, where there is speculation about a possible US military strike targeting Iran's nuclear programme. The US military website "The Aviationist" reported that two squadrons of B-2 strategic bombers, which are capable of carrying bunker-busting bombs, left Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on Friday morning. They are headed in the direction of the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, without indicating movements towards the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, which was previously used in similar operations. US President Donald Trump announced in May that he had reached an understanding with the Houthi group through Omani mediation to stop naval operations against commercial ships in the Red Sea in exchange for an end to US airstrikes on the group's positions and areas under its control. The Red Sea is a strategically vital area, through which roughly 10 per cent of global trade passes, escalation in the area can have wide economic and security repercussions.
France 24
3 hours ago
- France 24
Iran's foreign minister says aggression must stop so diplomacy can resume
11:29 21/06/2025 Israeli strikes kill Iranian commander: the latest on the ground in Tehran Middle East 21/06/2025 Israel claims its strikes have set back Iran's nuclear program by two or three years Middle East 21/06/2025 Iran: Israel strikes key nuclear site of Isfahan, authorities report no hazardous leak Middle East 21/06/2025 Iran: Israel vows to press offensive amid failing diplomacy Middle East 21/06/2025 Israel says strikes Iran's military infrastructure and nuclear sites Middle East 21/06/2025 Israeli military says killed Iran's Hamas coordinator Middle East 21/06/2025 Iranians flee war-torn country in long and dangerous journey Middle East 21/06/2025 Former member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team speaks to FRANCE 24 Middle East 21/06/2025 Israel-Iran war: Will Trump lose part of his supporters whatever he decides to do? Middle East
Euronews
3 hours ago
- Euronews
'Iran didn't want a result' - Was Iran just playing with Wadephul?
On Friday, all political observers looked to Geneva in Switzerland where talks with Iran took place at the Intercontinental Hotel. Together with France, Great Britain and Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) negotiated for four hours with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about Iran's nuclear programme. Wadephul's mission: to dispel concerns about nuclear armament with a new nuclear deal in order to de-escalate the Israel-Iran conflict. Before the meeting, Wadephul demanded "serious readiness" from Iran and to renounce "any enrichment of nuclear material". "The ball is now in Iran's court," he said. Euronews learnt that Germany held the talks in confidential consultation with Israel and the US. However, neither country attended the discussions. Iran requires 'Israeli aggression to stop' for further talks "There is no room for negotiations with us until Israeli aggression stops," said Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi. Iran's ambassador to the UN, Ali Bahreini, told Euronews that Iran would present "points" in Geneva that would show Europe's "failure" in the conflict. Europe should stop supporting Israel, he added. Huge pressure on Tehran before the talks The pressure on Tehran increased before the meeting. Following the recent Iranian missile attacks, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said: "A dictator like Khamenei, who is at the head of a country like Iran and has made the destruction of Israel his mission, must not be allowed to continue to exist". Although political experts predicted "no breakthrough" from the outset, expectations rose due to US President Donald Trump leaving a window of opportunity open for possible de-escalation. He wants to make a decision within "two weeks" as to whether the US will intervene in the conflict alongside Israel. At the same time, Israel declared that they would be able to destroy deeply bunkered facilities militarily without the US - one of these bunkers is home to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Wadephul's Iran meeting ends without result After four hours of negotiations, Foreign Minister Wadphul said: "The good result today is that we left the room with the impression that the Iranian side is basically prepared to continue talking about all important issues". He added that it was important for the US to be involved in further negotiations and a solution. Iran's foreign minister hints at halting negotiations Following the Geneva meeting, the Iranian foreign minister said: "We support the continuation of talks with the three European countries and the European Union," said Foreign Minister Araghchi. "But as long as Israel's attacks continue, we will not negotiate with ANY party." In an interview with Euronews, political observer Carsten Ovens, head of the European Leadership Network (ELNET), summarises the outcome as follows: "Foreign Minister Wadephul's efforts are important," Ovens said. "However, Iran was clearly not interested in a result." Did Iran "play" with the West in Geneva? Ovens adds: "The talks in Geneva make it clear: Iran is playing with the West and wants to stall for time." He goes on to say that Iran is "continuing its efforts to develop offensive weapons to destroy the state of Israel and this devalues the diplomatic efforts of the past ten years." The Iranian regime has "repeatedly undermined the 2015 nuclear agreement and continuously expanded its nuclear capabilities as well as its ballistic missile programme", according to the Middle East expert. "The EU's adherence to the nuclear agreement was wrong" German-Iranian FDP politician Bijan Djir-Sarai told Euronews that the negotiations were hopeless from the outset. "Without the USA and Israel, the EU's negotiations are irrelevant," said the foreign policy expert. IDjir-Sarai believes that it is no longer possible to rely on old strategies such as nuclear treaties and that there needs to be a political rethink. "The EU's adherence to the nuclear agreement was wrong. A new strategy in dealing with the regime is necessary," he said. Ovens: "Iran threatens the region and Europe too" The head of the European Leadership Network is convinced that Iran will not stop increasing its nuclear capabilities. Ovens warns: "A nuclear-armed Iran poses an immediate and existential threat - for the region as well as for Europe." For some political observers, the German initiative for talks with Iran came as a surprise. A few days ago, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said that Israel was doing the "dirty work" for everyone with its military action against the Iranian regime. "Otherwise we might have seen months and years more of this regime's terror and then possibly with a nuclear weapon in their hands," said Chancellor Merz. On Thursday, Chancellor Merz then announced: "I support the intensive efforts of Foreign Minister Wadephul. Iran is called upon to negotiate an agreement quickly. We want to make our diplomatic contribution to this." Wadephul's Iran mission also caused irritation in the CDU/CSU's own ranks. This is because the CDU and CSU are divided on the extent to which negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programmes make sense. Many in the CDU in particular assume that Iran is continuing to build nuclear weapons in underground facilities despite official agreements. What's more, many in the CDU/CSU consider the nuclear agreement with the Iranian regime to be a "sham". CDU member of the Bundestag Roderich Kiesewetter criticised the agreement to Phoenix: "What are we negotiating about? The regime has the destruction of Israel as its state doctrine and is continuing to build a nuclear bomb. Instead of nuclear negotiations, Israel's actions should be "politically supported". CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen expresses a similar sentiment. He said: "The rulers in Tehran have led Europe around by the nose for years. The nuclear negotiations were not a way to find a solution, but a means of gaining time, building up pressure and obtaining concessions."
