Smoke bomb thrown at Amsterdam memorial of Hamas assault; Arrests at Pro-Palestinian rally

The first of two Amsterdam memorial services held exactly one year after the Hamas attack in Israel was briefly disrupted after someone set off a smoke bomb. Nearby, police prevented a pro-Palestinian rally at the city's main train station from marching to the memorial service on Dam Square. Just before 6 p.m., police in the capital began arresting the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, many of whom were wearing full facial coverings in violation of regulations.

A larger commemoration was expected to be attended by Prime Minister Dick Schoof later in the evening. That memorial was organized by the Israeli embassy and Jewish lobbying group CJO. The Hamas attack killed around 1,200 people, and around 250 Israelis were abducted to the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel has since carried out multiple attacks on the Gaza Strip, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries.

A reporter at the scene of the first Amsterdam commemoration, dubbed the "Star of David on Dam Square," saw an individual lob the smoke bomb. The police removed a group of people who were shouting, "Free Palestine," and then a few others were taken away for also shouting the same slogan. At least 400 people attended the commemoration. Several people were waving Israeli flags. Before the moment of silence and the Israeli national anthem, an Israeli flag of about 25 meters was unfurled.

Songs were also sung, and pieces of religious text were read to the crowd. ChristenUnie Member of Parliament Don Ceder also addressed the gathered crowd, who were assembled in part by a group of Christians based in Zuid-Holland organized under the name, Op de Bres voor Israel.

A line of police officers has been set up between Dam Square and the edge of Damrak to stop people with Palestinian statements. Further on, at Central Station, dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been surrounded by the mobile unit. They initially wanted to go to Dam Square.

Around the same time, dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were surrounded by the riot police (ME) at Amsterdam Centraal Station, an ANP reporter there observed. Police officers were present with about 20 vans, some police were on horseback, and there were also several police dogs. Tram traffic on the west side of the station was blocked.

The demonstrators initially wanted to go to Dam Square. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema had assigned the counter-demonstrators their own spot, while the pro-Palestinian group to protest a little further along Damrak. They gathered there, but then tried to use side streets to get to Dam Square, and then blocked the tram tracks at Prins Hendrikkade in front of the station.

The group was surrounded by riot police, undercover officers, and tactical teams. After the mayor gave the order to end the demonstration, the activists were allowed to leave but they were still prevented from going to Dam Square. They tried to do this anyway by walking as a procession via Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal past the city center police station.

The riot police managed to surround the group again, and then the police announced that all those present had been arrested at about 5:30 p.m. "Attention, this is the police speaking. You are being detained for violating Article 11 of the Public Demonstration Act." The pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the protest were all due to be arrested as Halsema ordered it to conclude, but the activists did not comply.

Many activists were wearing full face coverings, although Halsema said this was forbidden. They were carrying Palestinian flags, and signs stating texts in English and Dutch, including "Stop arms deals with Israel," "Stop funding genocide," and "1 year of genocide, 41,000+ murdered by Israel."

They also shouted various slogans, including "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." The statement is considered controversial, as many believe it advocates for a single-state solution and expulsion of the Jews living in Israel.

The arrested protesters were being taken away by bus to a location outside the city. They will not be held for long, a police spokesperson said.