• Hundreds of thousands joined a mass protest in Amsterdam, with a "Red Line" march signaling demand for a tougher Dutch stance on Gaza.
• Protests spread beyond the Netherlands to Istanbul, Ankara and other cities, calling for action to end the Gaza war and halting arms sales to Israel.
• Demonstrators pressed for ceasefire and humanitarian relief as elections in the Netherlands loomed and as international pressure mounted.
• Participants included a wide range of groups, with quotes reflecting urgency and appeals for government intervention.

In Amsterdam, organizers estimated about 250,000 demonstrators joined a six-kilometer “Red Line” march through the city, a turnout that underscored broad support for a tougher Dutch posture on Israel’s war in Gaza. Protesters wore red, waved Palestinian flags, and chanted for a ceasefire and humanitarian relief, while organizers said they hoped for action from politicians. One participant, Emilia Rivero, said, “We are here to condemn everything that is happening in Gaza,” and another added, “I feel this is the least we can do, seeing the horrors in Gaza.” The event followed earlier demonstrations in The Hague and occurred as observers noted the government had begun steps such as travel bans on far-right Israeli ministers and, more recently, moves to curb goods from settlements and coordinate with EU trade measures. “We want our government to put pressure on the Israeli government, to make sure that there is a ceasefire,” PAX Netherlands director Rolien Sasse told Reuters. According to Reuters.

Beyond the Netherlands, the protests widened to encompass Istanbul and other cities, with large crowds forming from the Hagia Sophia to the Golden Horn in Istanbul and demonstrations in Ankara. In Turkey, protesters and observers highlighted strong public sentiment against Israel’s actions, and Turkish officials faced pressure as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s stance attracted attention on the global stage. Al Jazeera reported on the demonstrations and noted Turkey’s prominent role in voicing opposition, while TRTGlobal highlighted similar scenes in Istanbul and Ankara as part of a regional wave of protests. According to Al Jazeera and TRTGlobal.

Across Europe and the Middle East, other demonstrations joined the street actions in Spain, Sofia, Rabat, and Pakistan’s Karachi, reflecting widespread solidarity and call for accountability. Al Jazeera described rallies across Madrid, Rome, and Barcelona and noted banners accusing Israel of genocide, while Rabat’s crowds urged their government to reverse ties normalization. In Pakistan, tens of thousands gathered in Karachi, with protests organized by Jamaat-e-Islami and other groups; in Turkey, Istanbul and Ankara protests continued alongside regional gestures of solidarity. The coverage also cited calls such as “Gaza is the biggest graveyard of children” and other humanitarian concerns, illustrating a broad coalition seeking an end to the war. According to Al Jazeera and TRTGlobal.