Police arrested 205 protesters on Thursday evening after a Gaza-support demonstration moved from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Den Haag Centraal. Trains were disrupted for hours as groups gathered in the main hall, on platforms, and some on the tracks. Police said the atmosphere “turned grim” and that protesters ignored orders to move to a designated location. One detainee is suspected of insulting and using violence against officers. One officer was injured, police said.
Organisers aimed to draw attention to the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian aid mission to Gaza. This week, the Israeli navy intercepted most flotilla boats in international waters and detained hundreds of activists. Reports say around 500 people were taken into custody for processing. Dutch media noted that about 16 Dutch nationals are among those detained.
Photo Credits: Delia Giandeini/Unsplash
Police response
According to police, repeated requests to relocate the protest to Laan van Reagan en Gorbatsjov were ignored. Entering tracks is illegal and dangerous, which led to officers carrying out mass arrests in and around the station. The force said aggression against staff is “unacceptable” and that suspects who attack or threaten officers are prioritised for fast-track prosecution with higher sentencing demands.
Two weeks earlier, far-right riots in The Hague led to around 30–37 arrests, after incidents that included burning police vehicles, blocking the A12, and attacks on buildings and journalists. Courts have since handed down penalties ranging from community service to short jail terms in early cases. The different arrest totals have prompted public debate about policing tactics at protests.
Most of the 205 detainees were taken to police facilities for identification and processing. Some may receive fines; others could face charges, especially where violence or endangering rail safety is suspected. Meanwhile, the flotilla incident continues to trigger international criticism and legal questions about Israel’s blockade and the interception in international waters, issues likely to fuel further protests in the Netherlands and across Europe.
