DUTCH GOV'T SEES RED FOR SUPPORTING ISRAELv

On 18 May, The Netherlands witnessed one of the largest public demonstrations in two decades, with as many as 100,000 protesters demanding the Dutch government cease its political, economic, and military support for Israel's military onslaught in Gaza.

Protesters symbolically created a 'red line' by wearing red and marching for five kilometres around the centre of The Hague, which houses the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). A 'red line' is a diplomatic term aimed at compelling authorities to adhere to a moral and legal threshold lest they face consequences.

A 2024 survey by market researcher Ipsos I&O showed that more than half of the Dutch people want the Netherlands to stop supplying weapons to Israel, and 63 per cent want the government to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

In February 2024, a Dutch court ruled that the Netherlands must halt sending parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel due to its ongoing attacks on Gaza. The government is now evaluating military and dual-use exports to Israel case-by-case.

The Netherlands' traditional support for Israel is also under pressure within the ruling coalition. Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), holds the most parliamentary seats and is a strong pro-Israel advocate. Wilders has accused pro-Palestine demonstrators of supporting H*mas, saying they are 'confused.' 

In contrast, Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp of the centre-right New Social Contract (NSC) party has adopted a more critical stance, urging the EU to reassess its trade deal with Israel due to the Gaza aid blockade, which he views as a violation of international law.

Israel's Western-backed onslaught on Gaza and the Palestinian people has k*lled over 61,700, according to Gaza authorities, but other analysts put the figure much higher. In July 2024, British medical journal The Lancet estimated the death toll at over 186,000.

Will the people's voices be heard, or will they be ignored?