Dutch PM urges Israel, Hamas to maintain ceasefire; Pro-Gaza protests in various cities

Prime Minister Dick Schoof called on all parties to adhere to the ceasefire in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes killed over 330 people in Gaza. According to Schoof, it is in the interest of the Palestinian and Israeli populations that the agreements are held. Pro-Palestinian protests have been announced in Nijmegen, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Gouda, and Wageningen.

“Disturbing and sad news from Gaza, where many more fatalities can be deplored,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

Israel began airstrikes on the Gaza Strip overnight, ending the ceasefire that has been in effect since January 19. The Palestinian movement Hamas has said it wants to resume the ceasefire. Hamas government leader Essam al-Daalis was killed in the Israeli attacks.

Protests have been announced in several cities in the country after the new Israeli attacks on Gaza.

In Wageningen, there will be a demonstration at Forum at 12:30 p.m., Wageningenforpalestine reported on Instagram.

Utrecht4 Palestine announced an “emergency protest” for Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at the city office in Utrecht under the name Enough is Enough.

The Instagram account amsterdam.encampment said that there will be a demonstration at the station in Rotterdam on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. and on Dam Square in Amsterdam on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

Activists will also take action in Gouda on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., according to free.palestine.nl, and in Amsterdam, a sit-in is planned at Central Station for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

At Radboud University in Nijmegen, there will be an “emergency demonstration” on Tuesday afternoon. The protest is at 3:30 p.m., nijmegenencampment reported on Instagram. “We cannot sit still while the Israeli genocidal massacres in Gaza continue: Last night’s massacre is further proof that a ‘ceasefire’ means nothing,” they wrote in the call to protest.

The pro-Palestinian student activists of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) are shocked by the intensity of the attacks. "We are unfortunately not surprised," said a spokesperson. "It was already clear from the negotiations that Israel did not want a definitive end to the war. We are now seeing that again, together with the starvation of Gaza."