Amsterdam Turns Red in Support of Gaza as 200,000 Join Red Line March

Protests across Europe against Israeli military operations in Gaza and the continued killing of Palestinians have gained momentum once again. On November 9, large numbers of people took part in the fourth “Red Line” demonstration in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Participants dressed in red and carried Palestinian flags and banners bearing slogans such as “Free Palestine,” “No Money for Genocide,” and calls to end the Israeli occupation.

According to Amnesty International Netherlands, more than 200,000 people participated in the march, although police did not release their own estimate of the crowd size. The demonstration began at the city's famous Museumplein, where large numbers of protesters gathered and speakers addressed the crowd. The march then proceeded through the streets surrounding Vondelpark before moving along various roads across the city. Traffic was brought to a halt on several normally busy streets because of the demonstrators. Many participants wore red clothing and scarves, which have become symbols of resistance and solidarity with the Palestinian people within the movement. Protesters repeatedly chanted, “Free, Free Palestine.”

This was the fourth major Red Line demonstration in the Netherlands and the second major march of the movement in Amsterdam. Previously, organizers had claimed that approximately 2.5 million people took part in a similar demonstration in the city in October 2025. Earlier, large protest marches were also held in The Hague in May and June 2025, with estimated attendance of 100,000 and more than 150,000 people, respectively. These pro-Palestinian demonstrations have consequently become some of the largest public protest events in the Netherlands in recent history.

This year's march was organized by a coalition of 13 organizations, including Amnesty International, Oxfam Novib, Save the Children, PAX, The Rights Forum, Doctors for Gaza, BDS and the Global Sumud Flotilla. The organisations said Palestinian civilians must not be abandoned and called on the Dutch government to adopt a clear and practical position against Israeli actions.  Save the Children, which works to protect children's rights, also established a special area at the demonstration where children were invited to write messages and wishes for children in Gaza and express their feelings through drawings.  The protesters' demands included imposing stricter restrictions on trade with Israel, ending business relations with companies benefiting from the Israeli occupation and alleged violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, halting direct and indirect arms supplies to Israel, and ending military cooperation with the country.

The organizers also urged the Dutch government to increase political, economic and diplomatic pressure on Israel to bring an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories and ensure compliance with international law. The slogan “No Money for Genocide” was also used as the central theme of the demonstration. Speakers at the march included Amal Helles, an exiled journalist from Gaza; Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti; former Dutch minister Lilianne Ploumen; and Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Amal Helles spoke about the situation in Gaza and the experiences of civilians living there, while former minister Lilianne Ploumen reiterated calls for tougher measures against Israel. Organizers also referred to an appeal sent to the government by former ministers and diplomats, urging it to adopt a tougher policy towards Israel.

The protesters' main criticism of the Dutch government was that the measures taken against Israel so far were insufficient. The current Dutch government has banned imports of products from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and has also supported trade-related measures against Israel at the European level. However, protest organizations want the scope of these restrictions to be expanded and all trade and investment that they believe helps sustain the occupation and actions against Palestinians to be halted. Prime Minister Rob Jetten defended the government's position during his weekly press conference on Friday, saying that his administration was continuing its efforts to improve the situation in Gaza and increase political and diplomatic pressure on Israel. He said the government was urging Israel to honour its commitments concerning Gaza. Jetten also made it clear that he would not participate in this year's march, explaining that he was now prime minister and that the responsibilities of his office were different.

Also read: Protests Held in France for the Fourth Consecutive Saturday

Israel rejects allegations that it is committing genocide in Gaza. It maintains that its military campaign was launched in self-defence following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage during those attacks. On the other hand, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in large-scale Palestinian casualties, the destruction of homes and infrastructure, and a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, 2025, Israeli attacks and Palestinian casualties in Gaza have not come to a complete halt.

During the demonstration, police detained a total of four people. However, according to the police, the march remained largely peaceful and orderly. The protest once again demonstrated that the issue of Gaza is no longer merely a matter of foreign policy in the Netherlands; it has also become a major political and moral question for the government at the public level. The organizers’ claim that more than 200,000 people participated reflects the continuing efforts to build broad public support in the country for solidarity with Palestinians and demands for tougher measures against Israel.