فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
On Sunday, tens of thousands of people dressed in red took to the streets of The Hague in the Netherlands and Brussels in Belgium in two massive demonstrations aimed at urging their governments to act on the situation in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, which they described as a “genocide.”
Massive Demonstrations in the Netherlands and Belgium
Approximately 150,000 protesters marched in The Hague, according to organizers, marking an even larger turnout than the 100,000 who demonstrated there on May 18. The march ended at the International Court of Justice, with participants calling on the Dutch government to impose concrete sanctions to stop the ongoing violence in Gaza.
In Brussels, where the protest also targeted the European Union’s perceived inaction, police estimated around 75,000 participants, while organizers claimed over 110,000—the largest pro-Palestinian demonstration ever held in Belgium.
Protesters’ Demands and Messages
Demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as “Don’t look away, do something,” “Stop Dutch complicity,” and “Silence when children sleep, not when they die.” Organizers, including Amnesty International and Oxfam, urged governments to take decisive action. Michiel Servaes, director of Oxfam Novib, said, “More than 150,000 people here dressed in red simply want real sanctions to stop the genocide in Gaza.”
Participants expressed frustration and a sense of urgency. A 67-year-old Dutch retiree, Dodo Van Der Sluis, said, “This might be the only thing we can do now as Dutch citizens, but it’s something we must do.” Similarly, Lydie Vrijdag, a retiree from Mechelen, Belgium, told AFP, “There is a genocide ongoing, our government is not responding, and the European Union is also failing to act.”
Context of the Crisis and Escalating Violence
These protests come amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Israel has launched attacks against Iran, which it suspects is pursuing nuclear weapons, while Iran has responded with missile strikes on Israel.
Since mid-March 2025, Israel has intensified military operations in Gaza, aiming to dismantle the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, free remaining hostages, and take control of the territory.
The United Nations warned on May 30 about the risk of famine in Gaza due to an ongoing humanitarian blockade.
The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in Israel resulted in 1,218 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians, according to AFP’s tally based on official data. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 54,600 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health, figures considered reliable by the UN.
In January 2024, the International Court of Justice called on Israel to prevent any acts of genocide. The UN’s humanitarian chief also urged world leaders in mid-May to “act to prevent genocide.”
These demonstrations highlight widespread public outrage in Europe over the Gaza crisis and increasing demands for urgent international action to halt the violence and protect civilians.
