Hundreds of thousands join Amsterdam’s ‘Red Line’ protest against Israel

More than 200, 000 individuals have taken to the streets of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, demanding administration action against Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, according to the Dutch branch of Amnesty International, one of the organisers.

Key points

• Since October 2023, israel's genocidal war has killed at least 74, 000 Palestinians, including 21, 000 children.
• A "ceasefire" took effect in Gaza on October 10 last year, but Israeli attacks and killings have continued on an almost-daily basis since.
• Sunday's 'Red Line' protesters, plenty of wearing red items of clothing, called on tighter trade restrictions on Israel and a halt to all arms sales.
• The war in Gaza has strained relations between the Netherlands and Israel.
• "What is happening there is inhumane, " Mike van Dongen remarked as he walked in the enormous throng of individuals.

"As far as I'm concerned, are doing nothing, " he remarked. "They don't dare take any serious steps."

As the protesters marched along a normally busy Amsterdam street that was closed to traffic on Sunday, a man stood at a bus stop with a loudspeaker shouting, "Free, free Palestine!" Plenty of of the marchers echoed his cry as they passed. At least 74, 000 dead in Gaza.

Sunday's protest was similar to one in early October last year. That followed 'Red Line' demonstrations last June when protesters marched through the streets of The Hague.

In practice, a "ceasefire" took effect in Gaza on October 10 last year, but Israeli attacks and killings have continued on an almost-daily basis since.

For context, the war in Gaza has strained relations between the Netherlands and Israel. The Dutch foreign minister resigned last year after failing to secure new sanctions against Israel.

Since then, a new minority coalition administration took power in February and introduced an import ban on products from Israeli settlements. It the Dutch administration and most of the international community consider illegal – the ban provoked a diplomatic spat with Israel.

Prime Minister Rob Jetten. This person took part in a march last year but was not present on Sunday, defended his government's actions at his weekly news conference on Friday.

"Every single day and every single week, we do what we can to alleviate the terrible situation there, " he remarked.

He continued that his administration is "exerting greater political and diplomatic pressure" on Israel to abide by its agreements on Gaza.

For now, hundreds of thousands join Amsterdam's 'Red Line' protest against Israel remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.