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    • Anti-Israel Dutch agenda exposed by Israel report
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    Anti-Israel Dutch agenda exposed by Israel report

    Vaseline Posted on

    An ominous scene unfolded in the heart of Amsterdam’s Dam Square on May 15, 2022. It was Nakba Day (marking the displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence) and the square was filled with Palestinian flags, anti-Israel banners and chants.

    At the center of this protest was Thomas Hofland, head of the pro-Hamas Samidoun organization in the Netherlands, alongside Amin Abu-Rashid, a known Hamas operative. When speakers from the podium praised Hamas as a “legitimate resistance movement” and even justified violence against Israelis, the Jewish community in the Netherlands took notice.

    This meeting was not a one-off incident, but an alarming sign of how deeply anti-Israel sentiment has infiltrated Dutch society, from marginal activism to mainstream public spaces, social media and even legal channels.

    Today, following new reports of violent attacks on Israeli fans in Amsterdam, The Jerusalem Post unveils an exclusive and highly classified report from Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Anti-Semitism, written in May 2024.

    The document, obtained by The Jerusalem Post, paints a disturbing picture of increasing anti-Israel sentiment and anti-Semitism in the Netherlands. This anti-Israel agenda, as described in the report, includes public rallies, legal and financial networks, social media influence and even cases of incitement.

    Anti-Israel social media post from the Netherlands (credit: Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry)

    It documents an increasingly hostile climate in which anti-Israel sentiment is not only tolerated, but sometimes celebrated and encouraged.

    The Nakba Day protest on Dam Square in May 2022 was emblematic of this shift. What was once considered radical rhetoric has been normalized, not only through isolated protests, but also through widespread activism permeating Dutch society.

    Since the start of the Iron Sword War on October 7, 2023, anti-Israel demonstrations in the Netherlands have escalated in intensity and hostility. Pro-Palestinian protests are no longer simply expressions of solidarity, but often call for Israel’s complete isolation and sometimes violent measures against Israelis and Jews.

    The report outlines the extent of this shift and describes a coordinated campaign led by key figures who have embedded anti-Israel rhetoric into Dutch social and public discourse.

    Key figures

    At the center of this movement is Amin Abu-Rashid, a well-known Hamas operative whose influence extends into prominent Dutch circles. In May 2022, Dutch authorities raided Abu-Rashid’s home, uncovering €150,000 in cash and Hamas-related materials, a stark reminder of his financial role in pro-Hamas activities.

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    Abu-Rashid has close ties to high-profile figures, including Gretta Duisenberg, widow of former ECB President Willem Duisenberg, who has long advocated the Palestinian cause. Together they have built an influential network through which anti-Israel sentiments can take root and spread throughout Dutch society.

    Another key figure in this landscape is Thomas van Gool, an activist at the peace organization PAX. His presence in mainstream human rights and peace groups lends deceptive legitimacy to his calls for a complete embargo on Israel.

    In July 2023, he attended the Gaza Freedom Flotilla reception in Rotterdam, where Palestinian flags were raised in solidarity with Hamas’s goals. Events like these show that he is connected to pro-Hamas activism, making him a prominent figure in the Dutch anti-Israel sphere.

    Also prominent is Thomas Hofland, who heads Samidoun, an organization affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Hofland’s defense of Hamas, which he sees as a legitimate force for Palestinian “resistance,” has helped him gain influence, especially among younger Dutch activists.

    A Samidoun stand with Palestinian flags is seen in Rotterdam, Netherlands on March 28, 2023 (credit: VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

    On May 15, 2022, he led the Nakba Day protest on Dam Square, together with Abu-Rashid to reinforce the message that Hamas is a ‘legitimate resistance movement’. Hofland’s formulation of extremism as activism has struck a chord with Dutch youth, further embedding anti-Israel sentiment into mainstream spaces and discussions.

    Abu-Rashid, van Gool and Hofland are more than just advocates; they are architects of a network designed to isolate Israel. According to the report, they organize fundraising events in Dutch cities, raising significant amounts of money, ostensibly for humanitarian aid, but often aimed at anti-Israel and pro-Hamas causes.

    In May 2023, social activist Carolien Nieuweboer launched a campaign to raise €100,000 to fill public spaces with pro-Palestinian billboards throughout the Netherlands. These billboards display symbols reminiscent of the Palestinian flag, normalizing anti-Israel sentiment in everyday public life.

    By the time the report was published, she had raised €83,000, illustrating strong support for these anti-Israel initiatives.

    Equally influential in fueling this sentiment is Rachid El Ghazaoui, known as ‘Rapper Appa’. His social media posts are known for their inflammatory nature. In March 2023, he called for “military intervention” and compared Israel to Nazi Germany, suggesting that dismantling the state was the only solution.

    Appa’s rhetoric reflects a broader trend of using social media to amplify anti-Israel sentiment, often masked under the guise of activism or freedom of speech.

    Anti-Israel agenda

    In addition to public advocacy and social media, this anti-Israel agenda has also gained traction through legal channels. Haroon Raza, a lawyer with the March 30 Movement, has used the Dutch legal system to target Israeli officials with lawsuits for war crimes and human rights violations.

    In March 2023, Raza’s organization filed a request for the arrest of Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit to Amsterdam, accusing him of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity.” These legal actions, while often symbolic, reveal a broader strategy to weaponize international law to isolate Israeli leaders and delegitimize the nation on a global stage.

    Social media has proven to be a particularly powerful tool for these activists. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter have allowed figures like Nieuweboer and Hofland to spread anti-Israel messages widely, often bypassing censorship with secret symbols like the watermelon, which resembles the Palestinian flag.

    This tactic has embedded anti-Israel narratives in the Dutch digital space, reaching audiences far beyond traditional activist circles and bringing these views into the mainstream. The ministry’s report warns that without accountability, social media platforms risk becoming breeding grounds for extremism, where such stories are normalized and allowed to spread unchecked.

    Dutch anti-Israel social media post (credit: Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry)

    Perhaps most disturbing is the Dutch government’s muted response to these activities. By labeling anti-Israel sentiment as “advocating human rights,” the authorities have allowed this movement to flourish unchecked. The ministry’s report, obtained exclusively by The Jerusalem Post, highlights how this lack of accountability has led to an atmosphere in which anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric is tolerated and even normalized.

    The report concludes with a stark warning: “The accumulation of activities leads to one goal: to harm the State of Israel internationally.” Despite this clear trajectory, Dutch authorities appear reluctant to intervene, allowing activists to exploit public spaces, legal systems and social media to intensify their campaigns.

    Friday’s incident in Amsterdam is a tragic consequence of allowing this hatred to continue unchecked. When pro-Hamas voices dominate public debate, legal systems are used to attack Israel, and extremists are allowed to spread their stories under the guise of free speech, hostility inevitably turns to violence.

    The violence against Israeli fans was not a spontaneous outburst; it was the culmination of a society in which anti-Israel sentiments had been cultivated and tolerated for years.

    The Netherlands is now at a critical moment. Will its leaders choose to defend the values ​​of tolerance and justice that the country upholds, or will they allow anti-Israel extremism to continue to erode these principles? The writing was on the wall and now is the time for decisive action.



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