WILLEMSTAD – A small group of demonstrators gathered outside the gates of the Parera naval base in Curaçao on Monday to symbolically draw a red line in protest against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The protest was organized by Curaçao4Palestine, a local movement calling for stronger condemnation from the Dutch government regarding the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. 

The group chose the location deliberately, stating that the naval base represents decisive action—something they believe The Hague has failed to take. 

“While soldiers inside are trained to act in moments of crisis, The Hague remains silent in the face of a genocidal war. Here, we draw the red line that the Dutch government should have drawn long ago,” said one of the organizers. 

The demonstration coincided with a working visit by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who was at the naval base at the time. When asked about the protest during a press conference, Schoof said the Netherlands is “carefully considering its response” to the conflict and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to a ceasefire, humanitarian aid access, and the release of hostages held by Hamas. 

“Ultimately, we aim for lasting peace and a two-state solution. That is what the Netherlands stands for,” Schoof stated. 

'Not an Anti-Jewish Protest' 

The organizers emphasized that the protest was not directed against Jewish people or Curaçao’s Jewish community. 

“On the contrary, we’ve also received support from Jewish Curaçaoans,” said a spokesperson. “This is not about ethnicity or religion—it’s about humanity. This is a pro-humanitarian message.” 

Curaçao4Palestine expressed frustration over what they see as a lack of moral clarity from the Dutch government. They referred to a past statement from former Prime Minister Mark Rutte about a “red line” in the conflict. 

“Months have passed, and that line still hasn’t been drawn,” one protester said. 

Growing Movement 

The group said it plans to organize more actions in the future and continues to support Palestinians directly, while also working to raise awareness across the island. 

“We’re doing this with more people on the island. We’re growing, and we want to keep the conversation going,” said organizers Halime Ayubi and Karima Gustawi. 

The protest was peaceful, and no incidents were reported.