Approximately twenty pro-Palestinian demonstrators from Extinction Rebellion (XR) walked onto the tracks at Amsterdam Central Station on Wednesday evening. As a result, all train traffic was temporarily stopped. Police have now removed all demonstrators from the tracks.
According to the police, around 7:30 PM, approximately twenty demonstrators walked onto the tracks. Agents intervened soon after. All individuals have now been removed from the track. The entire action lasted about fifteen minutes.
Train traffic has not yet been restored. NS expects the disruption to last until approximately 8:45 PM.
According to a reporter from the ANP on the scene, the activists were placed on the platforms, and most of them were handcuffed. The police stated they were prepared but could not prevent the action. “You can’t avoid people going onto the tracks,” said a spokesperson.
XR, along with several other pro-Palestinian groups, had announced on Tuesday that it would occupy “a crucial station” in the Netherlands. The activists wanted the outgoing cabinet to impose a full economic embargo against Israel by 3:00 PM on Wednesday.
XR is originally a climate action group, but demonstrators have also been regularly protesting against the Israeli war in Gaza lately.
Large demonstration in Amsterdam was peaceful
On Tuesday in Amsterdam, the Palace on Dam Square was also smeared with red paint by a pro-Palestinian organization, Palestine Action NL. The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, called it a “scandalous and unacceptable defacement.”
On Saturday, approximately 250,000 people participated in the Red Line protest in Amsterdam against the cabinet’s Israeli policy. That went without major incidents. Halsema called the demonstration “impressive” and gave her compliments to the organization.
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