Red line demonstration
{{Short description|2025 protests in The Hague, Netherlands}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 2025 Red Line protests in the Netherlands
| partof = Gaza war protests
| image = File:Rode Lijn demo Den Haag mei 2025 2.jpg
| caption = Protesters in red clothing forming a "red line" near the Peace Palace, 18 May 2025
| date = 18 May - 15 June 2025
| place = The Hague, Netherlands (with solidarity actions in Brussels, London, Geneva, and Terschelling)
| causes =
- Israeli military operations in Gaza
- Dutch government support for Israel
- Alleged violations of international humanitarian law
| goals =
- Dutch sanctions against Israel
- Suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement
- Ceasefire and humanitarian aid access in Gaza
| methods =
- Peaceful marches
- Symbolic red clothing
- Speeches and cultural performances
| status =
| result =
}}
The Red Line demonstrations were a series of major demonstrations in The Hague, Netherlands, organized by a coalition of human rights groups and pro-Palestinian organizations to oppose Israel’s military actions in Gaza and demand policy changes from the Dutch government. The protests on 18 May and 15 June 2025 drew over 100,000 and 150,000 participants respectively, marking the largest demonstrations in the Netherlands in two decades.{{Cite web |title=Tens of thousands protest in Netherlands over Israel's actions in Gaza |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/tens-thousands-protest-netherlands-over-israels-actions-gaza-2025-06-15/ |website=Reuters |date=15 June 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Second Gaza protest in The Hague attracts an even larger crowd |url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/06/second-gaza-protest-in-the-hague-attracts-an-even-larger-crowd/ |website=Dutch News |date=15 June 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Thousands attend 'red line' protest in The Hague against Israel's Gaza war |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/15/thousands-attend-red-line-protest-in-the-hague-against-israels-gaza-war |website=Al Jazeera |date=15 June 2025}}{{Cite news |title=Huge turnout at second Dutch protest seeking government action against Israel |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/06/15/netherlands-gaza-protest-hague-israel/fb112c6c-4a00-11f0-8fff-262d6ec54ab9_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |date=15 June 2025}}
Background
The protests emerged in response to Israel’s prolonged military campaign in Gaza (2023–2025), which had resulted in over 54,000 Palestinian deaths by June 2025 according to Gaza health officials. Organizers including Amnesty International, Oxfam Novib, PAX, and Doctors Without Borders accused the Dutch government of failing to hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes and genocide.{{Cite web |title=Another "red line" for Palestine protest to take place in The Hague |url=https://dutchreview.com/news/red-line-demonstration-the-hague-june-15-2025/ |website=DutchReview |date=5 June 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Gaza Rode Lijn demonstratie |url=https://www.amnesty.nl/agenda/demonstratie-trek-de-rode-lijn-15-juni |website=Amnesty International Netherlands |date=12 June 2025}} The "red line" symbolism represented the boundary protesters believed the government should enforce against Israeli actions violating international law.{{Cite web |title=Tens of thousands protest in The Hague to demand Dutch government action on Gaza war |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/19/tens-of-thousands-protest-in-the-hague-to-demand-dutch-government-action-on-gaza-war |website=Euronews |date=19 May 2025}}
Events
= 18 May 2025 demonstration =
File:Rode Lijn demo Den Haag mei 2025 4.jpg
The first protest on 18 May 2025 attracted approximately 100,000 participants wearing red clothing. Marchers formed a 5-kilometer human chain around The Hague’s city center, passing the Peace Palace (home to the International Court of Justice) where South Africa’s genocide case against Israel was being heard. Speakers condemned Dutch political and military support for Israel, with Amnesty International’s Marjon Rozema stating: “We demand an end to support as long as Israel blocks aid and commits war crimes”.
= 15 June 2025 demonstration =
The larger follow-up protest on 15 June 2025 saw organizers estimate 150,000 attendees, while police reported “tens of thousands”.{{Cite web |title=Mass protest in The Hague demands action against Israel |url=https://english.news.cn/20250616/9047f2e376fd429cbf6cea3808b41f94/c.html |website=Xinhua |date=16 June 2025}} Protesters repeated the red-clad march route and added a solidarity action on Terschelling island, where 2,000 Oerol festival participants formed a red line on the beach. The demonstration coincided with the ongoing hearings of the International Court of Justice and increasing EU scrutiny of Israel’s actions.
Demands
Protesters called for:
- Immediate Dutch sanctions against Israeli officials
- Suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement
- Full arms embargo on Israel
- Humanitarian aid access to Gaza
- Dutch recognition of Palestinian statehood
Impact
Prime Minister Dick Schoof acknowledged protesters’ “concerns and frustration” but emphasized backchannel diplomacy. Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp advocated for EU trade agreement review, while far-right leader Geert Wilders condemned protests as “Hamas support”. On 14 June, Schoof announced potential support for EU sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced formal review of EU-Israel relations on 12 June.