More than 100,000 people participated in a Red Line demonstration in The Hague, initiated by Oxfam Novib, to advocate for Palestinian rights and urge the Dutch government to take concrete action regarding the situation in Gaza. The demonstration, led by Oxfam Novib director Michiel Servaes, aimed to mobilize the “silent majority” and pressure the government to change its policies.

The demonstration on May 18 saw participants forming a human chain through The Hague, with organizers estimating the crowd size to be significantly larger than anticipated. Servaes highlighted the diverse participation, noting that many attendees were demonstrating for the first time.

Anton Philips, a descendant of the Philips founders, was among those who attended, emphasizing the need to suspend the Association Agreement, freeze military cooperation, impose travel bans, freeze assets, and break the humanitarian blockade. Servaes emphasized the importance of maintaining order during the demonstration to prevent any negative framing by politicians.

Servaes expressed disappointment that the demonstration had not yet yielded concrete results in the Dutch Parliament. Despite the lack of immediate policy changes, he affirmed the importance of continuing to engage in dialogue, demonstrations, and other forms of advocacy.

Following the demonstration, Servaes announced that another Red Line demonstration would be held in The Hague on June 15 to further press the government for action. He emphasized the urgency of the situation in Gaza and the need for decisions and sanctions to be made at upcoming European summit meetings.