Huge Demonstration in The Hague Against the Ongoing Conflict in Gaza
Throngs of people demonstrating across the Netherlands, expressing their extreme disapproval towards the ongoing war in Gaza.
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Huge crowds, estimated at 150,000 people, descended upon The Hague on Sunday to express their outrage against the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The protesters demanded immediate action from the Dutch government to halt the carnage and tackle this disturbing humanitarian crisis, which they condemned as a genocide.
The demonstrators donned red to make a powerful visual statement, forming a striking “red line” reminiscent of Amnesty International and Oxfam’s renowned campaigns. Their placards, emblazoned with "Stop the Genocide" and "End Dutch Complicity," echoed the sentiments of those gathered.
This was the second notable protest within a year, with the first demonstration in May witnessing over 100,000 participants – making it the largest protest in the Netherlands in twenty years, according to organizers. The Dutch authorities generally abstain from releasing the numbers attending public events.
Significantly, The Hague is home to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is currently entertaining a lawsuit by South Africa against Israel, alleging charges of genocide. Israel refutes these allegations.
The conflict, now in its 20th month, has sparked mounting international pressure on Israel for increased aid delivery to Gaza. The conflict erupted in October 2023 following a severe attack by the radical Islamic Hamas and its allies on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 casualties, according to Israeli statistics.
In response, Israel instigated intense military operations in the Gaza Strip, causing over 55,200 fatalities, as per the Hamas-controlled health ministry. The United Nations affirms these casualty numbers as credible.
Interestingly, while the current lawsuit against Israel for genocide is being considered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and not the ICC, it is essential to note that there has been some confusion between the two courts. The ICJ is primarily concerned with disputes between states and treaty compliance (like the Genocide Convention), whereas the ICC prosecutes individuals for international crimes. The ICC also has its own separate proceedings relating to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, unrelated to South Africa's ICJ case.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Insights from Enrichment Data:
- The ICJ, not the ICC, is handling the lawsuit brought by South Africa against Israel over genocide allegations.
- The ICJ ordered interim measures in January 2024, compelling Israel to prevent acts of genocide, punish incitement to genocide, and allow essential humanitarian services into Gaza.
- South Africa filed the genocide case with the ICJ in December 2023, alleging that Israel has committed and is committing genocidal acts against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in violation of the Genocide Convention.
- The main ICJ proceedings are ongoing, with no final judgment issued yet on whether Israel is guilty of genocide.
- The ICC is handling separate proceedings regarding alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, with arrest warrants issued for Israeli officials in November 2024.
The European Union, as a supranational political union and not a political party, has not taken any official stance in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, despite calls from the demonstrators in The Hague for immediate action to halt the violence. The conflict, which has been ongoing for 20 months, has sparked mounting international pressure, as well as lawsuits like the one filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over genocide allegations.
