By Abdullah Asıran
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AA) – In a show of solidarity with Palestine, demonstrators gathered at eight train stations across the Netherlands, with the major rally taking place at Rotterdam Central Station.
The protesters, waving Palestinian flags and calling for a cease-fire, voiced their discontent with the Dutch government's support for Israel.
The demonstrators also chanted slogans against the Islamophobic and far-right Freedom Party (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, who came ahead by a wide margin in Wednesday's early general elections.
The protesters vehemently opposed the PVV, condemning its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Slogans echoing through the stations included "Holland funds, Israel bombs," "We don't want PVV," and "Wilders, you will see, Palestine will be free."
Anita Risseeuw, one of the Dutch protesters, told Anadolu that the dire situation in Gaza is tantamount to genocide.
“We will keep raising our voice until freedom and justice are finally achieved for the Palestinians and the people of Gaza,” she said.
Risseeuw, who described the results of the general elections in the Netherlands on Nov. 22 as "horrible," stated: “The result is not good for the Netherlands, nor it is good for the people of Gaza. Because Wilders is definitely pro-Israel. We know this.”
“He has very close relationships with people in Israel. If he comes to power, the relationship between the Netherlands and the Palestinian state will deteriorate even further,” she feared.
Another protester, Geke Hasperhoven, emphasized they will continue protests. “We are against the occupation of Palestine. And this must come to an end. We are doing this (protest) at the stations because many people travel through the stations.”
Hasperhoven said she did not think Wilders would work in favor of Palestinians, adding: “This makes our presence here even more important.”
The rally ended after observing a minute of silence for those who lost their lives in Palestine.
Sit-in protests were also held at train stations in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Alkmaar, Almere, Roermond, Haarlem, and Enschede.