During a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Rotterdam on Wednesday evening, an officer was assaulted. A total of 93 people were arrested. More than half of them are still in custody on Thursday morning. Most will be released during the day.
Activists from Geef Tegengas and several pro-Palestinian movements stood in front of Rotterdam City Hall on Wednesday evening. According to Rijnmond, the demonstration was initially peaceful. Mayor Carola Schouten had given permission.
The demonstration was supposed to end at 7:30 PM, but dozens of activists remained. Schouten decided to dissolve the demonstration at 8:00 PM. The police asked the activists to leave the location. 93 people who did not comply were arrested.
Slightly more than half of them (48 activists) were actually detained. They are still in custody on Thursday morning. “The vast majority will be sent home later today,” police say. One suspect will remain in custody anyway. She is suspected of assaulting an officer.
The other 45 activists were not detained because they are first offenders, police say. This means that someone is arrested for the first time for a certain offense, in this case, not listening to the police’s order to leave.
Protesters demonstrate against the role of Rotterdam port in Gaza
A spokesperson for Geef Tegengas tells NU.nl that “at least five, but certainly many more” activists were injured. They allegedly have bruised wrists and ankles, painful ribs, bruises, and head wounds.
A spokesperson for the Rotterdam police tells NU.nl that they have not heard anything about injuries and that no medical assistance was required on Wednesday evening.
The activists were demonstrating against the alleged role of Danish shipping company Maersk and the Rotterdam port in shipping parts of F-35 fighter jets and other weapons to Israel.
Two weeks ago, activist groups already demonstrated in Rotterdam because of a Maersk ship that was allegedly transporting weapons to Israel. Responsible alderman Robert Simons concluded after consulting with the harbor master and customs that the ship did not have any weapon parts on board.