Thousands of people gathered and marched through the streets of Amsterdam on a Sunday in a pro-Palestinian demonstration, voicing their solidarity with Palestinians as tensions escalated in the Israel-Palestine conflict. The protest took place as Israeli forces prepared for a potential invasion of the Gaza Strip in response to last week’s unprecedented attack by Hamas.
The demonstrators transformed the central square of Amsterdam into a sea of Palestinian flags and carried placards with messages such as “Free Palestine,” “Stop the War,” and “Stop The Attack on Gaza,” as reported by AFP journalists on the scene. The demonstration symbolized the strong sentiments of the participants in support of the Palestinian cause.
As the march progressed, three planes flew overhead, displaying messages that conveyed messages of peace and unity. Some of the messages read “Love Hummus, not Hamas,” “Make falafel, not war,” and “Shalom, Salam,” representing the words for “peace” in Hebrew and Arabic, respectively.
Similar demonstrations occurred over the weekend in major Western capitals, including Washington, London, and Geneva, underscoring the global nature of the concern for the ongoing conflict.
James Casey, a 63-year-old retired tourist from Canada, expressed his feelings about the situation. He said, “It’s horrible. You know I have no solutions for it… but what I’m feeling is sadness.” Casey conveyed his support for the Palestinian people but also acknowledged the recent Hamas attacks on Israel, which resulted in a significant loss of life. He stated, “So it’s really mixed, you know. I have mixed feelings. Peace is what we would love, a path to peace.”
In the eight days following the Hamas attack, Israel responded with a devastating bombing campaign in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 2,300 people. Israel has issued warnings for 1.1 million Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza as they prepare for a potential ground invasion with the goal of dismantling the Islamist militant group.
Initially, the route of the Amsterdam march was planned to conclude in Amsterdam’s old Jewish quarter, but this route was altered during the week to avoid potential confrontation. Despite concerns, the beginning of the march proceeded peacefully in light drizzle, accompanied by a significant police presence.
The previous day, tens of thousands of people rallied across Britain in support of Palestinians, participating in demonstrations that largely unfolded without significant incident and were closely monitored by a heavy police presence. These protests are a reflection of the widespread international concern for the escalating crisis in the Middle East.