Dam Square, the famous square in the heart of the Dutch capital Amsterdam, hosted a large solidarity event on Sunday to commemorate Palestinian children and journalists who have fallen victim to the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. The event gathered hundreds of supporters who condemned the crimes of genocide, emphasizing the necessity of holding the occupation accountable for its blatant violations of international and humanitarian laws.
'Plant an Olive Tree' foundation supervised the organization of this symbolic demonstration, where the central square was transformed into an open exhibition embodying the scale of the humanitarian tragedy in the Strip. Thousands of children's shoes were displayed, symbolizing the lost lives, alongside platforms raising pictures and names of journalists targeted by the occupation while performing their professional duty of conveying the truth.
The event included moving segments in which a selection of Dutch artists, actors, and producers participated, taking turns reading the names and ages of the martyred children one by one. Silence prevailed throughout the venue with each name pronounced, in an attempt to humanize the stark numbers and remind the world that behind every number is a life story cut short by bombing and aggression.
Esther van der Most, director of the 'Plant an Olive Tree' foundation, stated that this event is being organized for the sixteenth time in loyalty to the children of Gaza, and for the fourth time in honor of the martyred journalists. She affirmed in her speech that the popular movement in the Netherlands aims to break the barrier of international silence regarding the systematic extermination and direct targeting of civilians that the Palestinian people are subjected to.
Van der Most pointed out that the official statistics speaking of 20,000 martyred children do not reflect the true scale of the catastrophe, given the thousands missing under the rubble of destroyed homes. She also drew attention to the suffering of detained children in Israeli prisons, who face harsh conditions away from any human rights or international oversight, which exacerbates the tragedy of Palestinian families.
The event highlighted the systematic targeting of journalistic cadres, as sources revealed the martyrdom of 313 journalists over the past two and a half years, an unprecedented toll globally. Participants considered the killing of journalists a desperate attempt by the occupation to obscure the crime and prevent images of massacres from reaching global public opinion, which has begun to grow restless with the Israeli narrative.
The director of the foundation strongly criticized the Dutch government's stance, describing it as weak and hesitant in the face of a regime openly practicing genocide. She demanded the necessity of taking firm political measures, including imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions on Israel, stressing that continued support or silence constitutes indirect participation in the crimes committed against innocent people.
For her part, Dutch artist Georgina Verbaan expressed her full solidarity with the Palestinian cause, noting that her participation comes from a purely humanitarian motive to draw attention to the suffering of children. Verbaan said that through her voice and fame, she seeks to motivate decision-makers to take immediate action to stop the bloodshed, emphasizing that the scenes coming from Gaza cannot be endured by any living conscience.
Volunteers in the square made great efforts to distribute awareness leaflets to passersby and tourists, explaining the roots of the conflict and the details of the ongoing war of extermination since October 2023. This step aimed to correct misconceptions and present a documented Palestinian narrative with facts and figures about the extent of the destruction that has affected infrastructure and vital facilities in the Gaza Strip.
This event comes at a sensitive time, as field reports indicate that Israel continues to disregard humanitarian work protocols despite a ceasefire agreement. The occupation authorities prevent sufficient entry of medical aid, food, and fuel, which has led to an exacerbation of famine and the spread of diseases among displaced persons in overcrowded camps.
Local sources confirmed that the toll of the genocidal war that began on October 7 has exceeded 72,000 martyrs and more than 172,000 injured, most of whom are women and children. Despite international pressure and demonstrations sweeping global capitals, the Israeli war machine continues its operations in various forms, threatening more victims amid the collapse of the health system.
The event in Amsterdam concluded with calls to escalate popular action in Europe to pressure parliaments and governments to stop exporting weapons to the occupation. The organizers affirmed that Dam Square will remain a platform for the Palestinian voice until the people achieve their legitimate rights and the daily massacres committed in cold blood before the eyes and ears of the whole world cease.
What the Dutch government is doing towards a regime practicing genocide is very weak, and these violations must stop immediately.
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Amsterdam Hosts Massive Event to Commemorate Gaza's Children and Journalists and Condemn Genocide