Important demonstrations in The Hague and Brussels to arrest governments on the “genocide” in Gaza

Dressed in red, tens of thousands of people went down Sunday, June 15 on the streets of The Hague and Brussels for two monster demonstrations aimed at challenging their governments on the situation in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, qualified as “Genocide”.

On Saturday, thousands of people had demonstrated in France as part of a world weekend of mobilizations. Some 150,000 demonstrators paraded in The Hague, according to the organizers, an even stronger mobilization than that of May 18 in the same Dutch city (100,000 people).

In Brussels, where the objective was also to challenge the European Union (EU), accused of inaction, the procession brought together 75,000 people according to the police, more than 110,000 according to the organizers. They claimed the largest demonstration ever organized in Belgium in support of the Palestinians.

Many families with children

In the two neighboring countries, the organizers, including Amnesty International and Oxfam, called on the participants to create a “Red line” For Gaza, by wearing a garment of this color (T-shirt, scarf, cap). The processions actually took the look of a red sea.

In The Hague, where the march was in arrival the International Court of Justice, some brandished banners on which we could read: “Do not look away, do something”,, “Stop the Dutch complicity” And “Silence when children sleep, not when they die”.

The organizers urged the Dutch government – which collapsed on June 3 after the removal of a far -right party from a fragile coalition – to do more to master Israel. “More than 150,000 people here dressed in red (…) Just want concrete sanctions to stop the genocide in Gaza ”said Michiel Servaes, director of Oxfam Novib. “We demand action from our government now”he added. “It must stop. That's enough. I can't take it anymore. »»

In the EU capital, demonstrators, including many families with children chanted “Free Free Palestine” or broke Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. A poster showed his face surmounted by a “Wanted for crimes against humanity”.

In the Netherlands, the resigning Prime Minister Dick Schoof reacted on X: “To all those who are in The Hague, I say: We see you and we hear you. »» “In the end, our goal is the same: to end the suffering in Gaza as soon as possible”he added. Elections caused by the fall of the government are scheduled for October 29.

Paris-Brussels Citizen Marche

From Paris, a dozen walkers from civil society, including the French actress Corinne Masiero, set off on Sunday from Paris behind the banner “Gaza: stop genocide, Europe must act!” »» To rally Brussels and require the European authorities to sanctions against Israel.

“We want to make the voice of civil society heard to remind the European Union its duties”especially that of “Defending democracy and the rule of law” and “Enforce the decisions of international prices”summed up with AFP Nathalie Tehio, president of the League for Human Rights.

The organization is co-organizer of the initiative, launched before military climbing between Israel and Iran, alongside in particular the CGT and the International Human Rights Federation.

The idea is that thus “Perhaps the end of impunity for Israel is starting” In occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, ravaged by more than twenty months of war launched by the bloody attack in Hamas on October 7, 2023 in Israel, adds M^me Tehio.

The walkers hope that a delegation will be received in Brussels on June 23, the date on which a European Council of Foreign Affairs must be held “Where precisely the question of the suspension of the agreement with Israel can be decided”according to her.

Risk of famine

Israel has launched attacks since Friday against Iran that it suspects of wanting to have nuclear weapons. This country had resumed its offensive in mid-March on the Gaza Strip, and intensified its military operations on May 17, in order to destroy the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, release the last remaining hostages and take control of the territory.

The UN warned on May 30 against a risk of famine throughout the Gaza Strip due to a humanitarian blockade. The attack launched on October 7, 2023 in Israel by Hamas resulted in the death of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to a statement by the France-Presse (AFP) agency based on official data.

In retaliation, Israel launched a military campaign which killed more than 54,600 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Health of the Government of Hamas for Gaza, deemed reliable by the UN.

In January 2024, the International Court of Justice (CIJ) called Israel to prevent any act of genocide. The UN humanitarian operations chief also urged world leaders in mid-May to “Act to prevent genocide”.