Amsterdam Rally Demands Stronger Dutch Pressure on Israel

Demonstrators gathered in Amsterdam on November 8 to demand stronger Dutch pressure on Israel over the Gaza war. Organizers estimated that at least 200,000 people joined the fourth Red Line demonstration. Participants marched from Museumplein around Vondelpark before returning to the square; the turnout figure was the organizers’ estimate. The organizers called for maximum political, economic and diplomatic pressure on Israel. Thirteen organizations participated, including Amnesty International, Oxfam Novib and Save the Children. Many demonstrators wore red and carried red or Palestinian flags. The previous demonstration, in October 2025, drew an estimated 250,000 people. Prime Minister Rob Jetten had said at his November 6 press conference that he would not attend. Asked about his participation in an earlier rally, he said he had held a different role then: “I would not consider that appropriate now.” Jetten said his cabinet had increased humanitarian assistance, supported medical evacuations of sick children to Jordan, restricted settlement products and pursued pressure through European diplomacy. In a separately published explanation of its Gaza operations, the Israel Defense Forces said its purpose was to protect Israeli civilians and target terrorist organizations, chiefly Hamas, while acting under international law. The military said Hamas places military infrastructure among civilians and that suspected violations by Israeli soldiers are investigated.