By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News, with reporting by Johan Th. Bos in Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – Police say pro-Palestine protesters gathered on Amsterdam’s central Dam Square despite a protest ban following the first pogrom in the Netherlands against Jews since World War Two.
“We are present on Dam Square in large numbers because of a prohibited demonstration,” Amsterdam police said late Wednesday.
“We have ordered the demonstrators to leave. Some of them then left voluntarily. The remaining demonstrators are surrounded by police officers. They have been arrested and will be transported in waiting buses.”
Some protesters were wearing masks, although face coverings are prohibited under a temporary emergency ordinance issued by authorities.
Police, present with many officers, vans, and riot police, intervened briefly, calling “everyone to leave Dam Square,” but then left protesters alone, reporters saw.
Those attending the pro-Palestine rally were able to continue their protest till police broke up the massive gathering.
Amsterdam’s local authorities (the mayor, police chief, and chief public prosecutor) issued an emergency ordinance after numerous people were injured during a “Jews hunt” by Arab Muslims.
HIGH RISK
The decree designates the city as “a high-risk security area,” enabling preventive searches and banning protests, officials said.
The emergency ordinance was to expire on Thursday at noon local time.
However, “a security risk area will remain in effect” until Sunday. “Due to the ongoing unrest in the city and the online threats to a number of schools in Amsterdam,” the Amsterdam leadership said.
Within this area, police can “preventively search” anyone, authorities announced.
Although the demonstration was moved to the Westergasterrein (Western Gast Terrain), many demonstrators stayed on Dam Square shouting “Free Palestine!” and other slogans.
During an emergency debate in parliament, critics said, “Amsterdam is moving toward anarchy.”
Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders said he will present a motion to parliament calling for the resignation of Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Israel expanded its military campaign against Hezbollah on Monday, striking more than 70 targets across Lebanon as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to increase pressure on the Iranian-backed terror group following a sharp rise in drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel.
A federal appeals court is weighing whether Kansas City can use its public accommodation ordinance to require Christian counselors to counsel gay married couples despite the counselors’ biblical convictions on marriage and sexuality.
Tens of thousands of evangelical Christians gathered in the Netherlands for one of Europe’s largest multi-day Christian events, with organizers and participants expressing hopes for spiritual revival in the nation and across Europe.
President Donald Trump pushed back Monday against sharp criticism from Republicans and former administration officials over a potential U.S.-Iran agreement, insisting that any final accord must prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon or it will not be signed.
President Donald Trump said Monday that countries involved in negotiations over Iran should be required to join the Abraham Accords, signaling that the White House is seeking to turn a possible Iran agreement into a wider regional realignment that includes normalization with Israel.
Tensions remained high in Serbia’s capital Belgrade on Sunday after at least tens of thousands of people demanded elections and rallied against what they view as the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Aleksandar Vučić, with violence erupting after the protest and more than 20 people arrested.
Investigations were ongoing Sunday into the killing of three senior Kuki-Thadou Christian church leaders by unidentified gunmen in India’s northeastern Manipur State, Christian investigators told Worthy News.