Tens of Thousands Rally in The Hague Demanding Action on Gaza
A massive protest in the Dutch capital calls for government intervention in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On June 15, 2025, tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of The Hague to demand more robust action from the Dutch government regarding what they described as a "genocide" in Gaza.
The demonstration was organized by human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Oxfam, and proceeded towards the International Court of Justice in a symbolic gesture termed a "red line."
Participants, many dressed in red and waving Palestinian flags, transformed a central park into a vivid display of solidarity.
Organizers from Oxfam Novib estimated attendance at around 150,000, although the Dutch police did not provide their own estimate for the crowd size.
Protesters utilized banners with statements such as "Don’t look away, do something," "Stop Dutch complicity," and "Be silent when kids sleep, not when they die" to articulate their demands.
The march follows a previous large protest on May 18 in The Hague, which reportedly attracted more than 100,000 attendees, marking it as one of the largest demonstrations in the country in the past two decades.
Amidst the outcry, Michiel Servaes, director of Oxfam Novib, emphasized the population's demand for concrete government action, stating, "More than 150,000 people here dressed in red — and a clear majority of the Dutch population — just want concrete sanctions to stop the genocide in Gaza.
We demand action now from our government."
Attendees included citizens from various demographics, including pensioners like 67-year-old Dodo Van Der Sluis, who expressed her frustration at the ongoing situation and emphasized the necessity of their presence as citizens.
In response to the protests, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof acknowledged the demonstrators on social media, stating, "To all those people in The Hague I say: we see you and we hear you.
In the end, our goal is the same: to end the suffering in Gaza as soon as possible."
The ongoing conflict in Gaza escalated following an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which provoked a substantial Israeli military response.
The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that over 55,000 people have died as a result of the conflict, with a significant portion being civilians.
Currently, the International Court of Justice is reviewing a case submitted by South Africa that alleges Israel’s actions in Gaza are in violation of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.
In a parallel wave of activism, thousands of demonstrators also protested in France, calling for peace in Gaza and criticizing the French government's perceived complicity with Israel.
In Paris, police estimated around 9,000 participants, while organizers claimed 150,000 attended.
Protests also occurred in other cities such as Marseille and Toulouse.
European Parliament member Rima Hassan called for supporters to enact measures to uphold international law and address the crisis in Gaza directly.
The demonstration was organized by human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Oxfam, and proceeded towards the International Court of Justice in a symbolic gesture termed a "red line."
Participants, many dressed in red and waving Palestinian flags, transformed a central park into a vivid display of solidarity.
Organizers from Oxfam Novib estimated attendance at around 150,000, although the Dutch police did not provide their own estimate for the crowd size.
Protesters utilized banners with statements such as "Don’t look away, do something," "Stop Dutch complicity," and "Be silent when kids sleep, not when they die" to articulate their demands.
The march follows a previous large protest on May 18 in The Hague, which reportedly attracted more than 100,000 attendees, marking it as one of the largest demonstrations in the country in the past two decades.
Amidst the outcry, Michiel Servaes, director of Oxfam Novib, emphasized the population's demand for concrete government action, stating, "More than 150,000 people here dressed in red — and a clear majority of the Dutch population — just want concrete sanctions to stop the genocide in Gaza.
We demand action now from our government."
Attendees included citizens from various demographics, including pensioners like 67-year-old Dodo Van Der Sluis, who expressed her frustration at the ongoing situation and emphasized the necessity of their presence as citizens.
In response to the protests, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof acknowledged the demonstrators on social media, stating, "To all those people in The Hague I say: we see you and we hear you.
In the end, our goal is the same: to end the suffering in Gaza as soon as possible."
The ongoing conflict in Gaza escalated following an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which provoked a substantial Israeli military response.
The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that over 55,000 people have died as a result of the conflict, with a significant portion being civilians.
Currently, the International Court of Justice is reviewing a case submitted by South Africa that alleges Israel’s actions in Gaza are in violation of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.
In a parallel wave of activism, thousands of demonstrators also protested in France, calling for peace in Gaza and criticizing the French government's perceived complicity with Israel.
In Paris, police estimated around 9,000 participants, while organizers claimed 150,000 attended.
Protests also occurred in other cities such as Marseille and Toulouse.
European Parliament member Rima Hassan called for supporters to enact measures to uphold international law and address the crisis in Gaza directly.