200,000 Protesters March in Amsterdam to Demand Action on Gaza
The Red Line campaign seeks trade sanctions and a formal genocide declaration, challenging the Dutch government's diplomatic strategy.
By Julia Wang ·
Tens of thousands of demonstrators, many wearing red, filled the streets of Amsterdam on Sunday to pressure the Dutch government into taking firmer action against Israel regarding the conflict in Gaza. The mass rally, organized by the Red Line movement, focused on three specific demands: stricter trade sanctions, an official declaration that Israel’s actions constitute genocide, and an immediate halt to all arms sales to Israel.
The Dutch branch of Amnesty International, a co-organizer of the event, reported that more than 200,000 people participated in the march. The protest took place on a major thoroughfare that was closed to vehicle traffic for the duration of the demonstration. Marchers moved through the city center, echoing slogans shouted from a loudspeaker at a bus stop.
Mike van Dongen, a participant in the crowd, described the situation in Gaza as inhumane. He criticized the Dutch leadership for its perceived inaction, stating that the government was not daring to take serious steps. The protest marked the latest escalation in public pressure on The Hague to shift its diplomatic stance.
The conflict traces back to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip. Israel strongly rejects the characterization of its actions as genocide.
Since a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, more than 1,550 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by the Israeli military, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its tallies but notes that women and children account for roughly half of the deaths.
The campaign has strained relations between the Netherlands and Israel. The Dutch foreign minister resigned last year after failing to secure new sanctions against Israel. A new minority coalition government has since taken power and implemented an import ban on products from Israeli settlements. The Dutch government and most of the international community consider these settlements illegal, a position that triggered a diplomatic dispute with Israel.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who marched in the previous year’s demonstration but was absent on Sunday, defended his administration’s approach at a Friday press conference. He stated that the government acts daily to alleviate the situation and is exerting greater political and diplomatic pressure on Israel to honor its agreements. He also noted that his government is applying pressure on Hamas and other groups for operations that endanger ordinary Israelis.
