Amsterdam Red Line march calls for stronger Dutch action

Tens of thousands of people marched through Amsterdam on Sunday in a Red Line demonstration calling for the Dutch government to take stronger action over Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Protesters, many dressed in red, called for an end to Dutch arms sales to Israel and tighter trade restrictions or sanctions.

The reported turnout differed sharply. Amnesty International’s Dutch branch, one of the organizers, said more than 200,000 people joined the march. Another report attributed an estimate of about 20,000 to organizers. The figures concern the same demonstration, and no independently verified count was reported.

Organizers also called on the government to formally describe Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. Israel rejects the accusation. The demonstration was the fourth Red Line rally, according to an advance account of the event, and was backed by humanitarian and human rights groups including Amnesty International, Oxfam Novib and Save the Children.

The march came as the Dutch government faces calls to take further steps against Israel. The Netherlands has introduced an import ban on products from Israeli settlements, while relations between the two countries have been strained...