Thousands rally in Hague to show solidarity with Palestine

THE HAGUE

Thousands of people braved the rainy weather in the Dutch city of The Hague to participate in a march in support of Palestine, denouncing Israel's attacks on Gaza.

The demonstrators gathered at The Hague's Malieveld Square, expressing their solidarity with Gaza while condemning Israel for the ongoing violence in the region.

Throughout the march, participants chanted slogans that echoed their unwavering support for Palestine.

Slogans such as "Freedom for Palestine," "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," "Israel, the killer," "Stop the genocide," and "Immediate cease-fire must be established" resonated through the streets of The Hague, reflecting their collective commitment to peace and justice in the region.

Stephan van Baarle, a member of parliament for the DENK Party, joined the protesters in condemning the violence in Gaza.

Van Baarle said Israel's actions amounted to a massacre of the Palestinian people.

Calling for accountability, he said: “(Israeli Premier Benjamin) Netanyahu and his associates should be tried in The Hague for war crimes.”

Van Baarle also emphasized the urgent need to end the Gaza blockade and establish a lasting cease-fire.

He made it clear that the Dutch people stood in solidarity with the Palestinians, even in the face of potential political consequences.

"When you advocate for Palestine in Dutch politics, they censor you, limit your freedom of expression, and label you as a terrorist," he said. "But we will not stop until Palestinians have equal rights.”

Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas carried out a cross-border attack, killing 1,400 people, and taking many hostages.

The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 8,005, including 3,342 children, 2,062 women, and 460 elderly, according to the Health Ministry.

The Israeli army's spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, on Saturday announced "expanding its operations," and moving to the "next phase of our war against Hamas," which includes ground operations.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents are also grappling with shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicine due to Israel’s blockade of the enclave.