Pro-Israel Rally in Amsterdam Draws Thousands

Thousands gathered in Amsterdam on Thursday for a pro-Israel demonstration denouncing antisemitism and expressing solidarity with the Jewish community. The event, titled “Together Against Jew-Hatred,” was organized by Christian Zionist and Jewish groups at the Stopera complex near Waterloo Square.

Supporters waved Israeli and Dutch flags, while shofars sounded through the crowd. Police removed a handful of anti-Israel protesters who attempted to confront attendees. The rally followed the shocking assaults on Israelis returning from a soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax on November 7, incidents that many described as coordinated antisemitic violence.

Frank van Oordt, director of Christians for Israel, spoke passionately about the need to oppose growing hatred against Jews. “We see attempts to blame the Jews for violence against them, and we are sick of it,” van Oordt said. “We are standing by our Jews now, we do so proudly, and we will not stand by as hatred is incited again against them.”

Naomi Mestrum, director of the Center for Information and Documentation Israel, thanked Christian Zionists for their support and urged more people to act. “Everyone should be standing by the Jewish people now,” she said. “We are done talking. The authorities need to show up.”

Organizers advised attendees not to display Israeli flags when leaving the demonstration, citing concerns about potential attacks. Esther Voet, editor-in-chief of the Dutch-Jewish weekly NIW, criticized Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema for relocating the rally from Dam Square to the less central Stopera area. Halsema cited public order concerns for the decision.

Halsema, a former leader of the far-left GreenLeft party, also faced backlash for walking back her initial use of the term “pogrom” to describe the November 7 assaults, during which perpetrators reportedly referred to their actions as a “Jew hunt.” The coordinated violence, combined with narratives from some left-wing politicians blaming the Israeli victims, has fueled outrage within the Jewish community and beyond.

Speakers at the rally emphasized the urgency of confronting antisemitism and ensuring the safety of Jewish communities in the Netherlands. “The authorities must take this seriously,” Mestrum said. “Enough is enough.”

The rally demonstrated the strength of solidarity between Jewish and Christian communities and underscored the importance of standing against antisemitic violence. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on efforts to combat antisemitism and support Israel worldwide.