Painted Red: How the Netherlands Is Turning Against Its Own Government Over Gaza

In an unprecedented show of public outrage, large parts of the administrative capital of the Netherlands were cloaked in red as tens of thousands of people rallied against their government's ongoing support for Israel.

The mass mobilization is being called one of the largest demonstrations in recent Dutch history-and it appears the momentum is only growing.

Four weeks ago, nearly 100,000 protesters flooded the streets, demanding the Dutch government draw a clear red line against what they describe as Israel's genocide in Gaza. This latest protest drew even more people, with growing anger directed at acting Prime Minister Dick Schoof and his caretaker cabinet for what protesters allege is complicity in the ongoing atrocities.

"It's amazing to see this many people here. I'm really proud, but also deeply frustrated and sad," said one protester. "Our government refuses to listen-to us, to reason, or to the pain of the Palestinian people."

Among those addressing the rally was Dr. Sali Alsi, a physician who recently returned from Gaza. Her testimony offered a harrowing glimpse into life on the ground.

"As a doctor, you want to help. But it's so painful-hearing the screams of patients, watching mothers lose their children... it's unbearable," she shared with a heavy heart.

For many demonstrators, her words captured what no statistic or news report could: the human cost of political inaction.

Despite mounting frustration with the government, the protest maintained a unified focus on Gaza. Protesters emphasized that while global headlines have shifted, the atrocities in Gaza continue unabated, and must not be overshadowed by regional developments-including recent Israeli strikes on Iran.

"This is the fifth country Israel has attacked in under two years. But that must not distract us from what's happening in Gaza," one demonstrator said. "The killing has not stopped-and it must."

Solidarity extended beyond Dutch borders. A simultaneous mass rally took place in Brussels, timed ahead of key EU meetings where the future of the EU-Israel association treaty is being debated. The Dutch government has initiated a review of the agreement, citing Israel's human rights violations. But many protesters believe the European Union is deliberately stalling.

"The EU is dragging its feet. An official report from November already confirmed war crimes are being committed in Gaza," said one organizer. "What are they waiting for?"

The turnout, passion, and scale of the protests highlight a growing chasm between public sentiment and political policy across Europe. As more citizens mobilize to reject what they see as moral hypocrisy, one message resounds: the world cannot look away.