[The text below has shared demands from all Palestine collectives in the Netherlands. There are (A) global, (B) national and (C) local demands.]

From Ceasefire to Justice: Towards A Unified List of Demands in the Netherlands

Introduction

This document serves as a guiding framework for actions across the Netherlands aimed at ending Dutch complicity in the colonial project in Palestine and ensuring accountability for all actors involved in the genocide. These actions include demonstrations, petitions, advocacy, community organizing, institutional pressure, and direct actions designed to halt Dutch support and enforce international obligations. After a ceasefire, many, especially those newly mobilized over the past two years, may not immediately understand why action must continue. Because the focus has recently been on ceasefire, it is essential to educate and re-orient the Palestinian solidarity movement in the Netherlands toward short-term structural demands that address the roots of oppression, not only its latest manifestation.

A. The Goals of the Global Palestine Movement:

Why do we demand sanctions, boycotts etc.. from the Dutch government?

Killing civilians, starving populations, destroying hospitals and infrastructure, and using siege as warfare are violations of the Genocide Convention, the Geneva Conventions, and the Rome Statute. No state may assist or tolerate an ongoing genocide.

Dismantling of apartheid and all colonial systems and practices enforced by the Israeli regime Full withdrawal of Zionist military and settler presence from all Palestinian land Occupation, settlement, segregation, dual legal systems, population transfer and land theft are prohibited under international law. Apartheid is a crime against humanity. No colonial regime has legal legitimacy or the right to exist.

Immediate release of all Palestinian prisoners End of trials under the Zionist military courts and the apartheid legal system Military courts in occupied territory violate due process and are illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Administrative detention, torture, and child imprisonment are war crimes. A legal system built on ethnic supremacy cannot produce justice.

Guarantee the return of all Palestinian refugees expelled since 1948 and their descendants, both in the diaspora and within historic Palestine, in accordance with UNGA Resolution 194 The right of return is a binding human right recognized in international law. Ethnic cleansing does not expire with time. A refugee’s right to go back to their land and property is protected under: UN Resolution 194 (reaffirmed yearly since 1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Art. 13) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Art. 12) No just or lawful settlement of the Palestinian cause is possible without the restoration of this right.

Prosecution of war criminals and complicit institutions Legal, political, and economic consequences for those who enabled genocide and apartheid International law prohibits impunity for crimes against humanity. States have a legal duty not only to avoid participation, but to prevent, punish, and dismantle systems that commit these crimes.

End all military control, blockades, sanctions, and economic exploitation imposed on Palestinians End Dutch and international complicity through arms trade, investments, academic and political cooperation Exploiting occupied populations, funding their oppressor, or providing weapons to an apartheid regime violates international humanitarian law and state responsibility doctrines.

Urgent Actions We Demand from the Government

To steer the movement toward clear, achievable, and immediately implementable policy, we formulate concrete short-term demands directed at both the national government and local municipalities. These demands are not an endpoint, but necessary first steps to end Dutch complicity and to open the path toward structural justice for Palestine. In the Netherlands, our movement is an extension of the struggle in Palestine. We know our role is decisive: without international support — including from the Netherlands — the Zionist entity could not continue its colonisation, occupation and genocide.

B. Dutch Government — National Level

International law obliges states to ensure access to civilians in conflict zones (Geneva Conventions). Blocking aid is a war crime; enabling entry is a legal duty.

Self-determination is a core principle of the UN Charter; recognition is a precondition for legal equality and diplomatic protection.

as concluded and by multiple international bodies and human rights organizations, including the United Nations Special Rapporteurs, the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and a broad coalition of genocide and international law scholars worldwide. The Geneva Conventions do not require states to wait for the ICJ’s final ruling; they obligate states to act immediately to prevent genocide.

Refugees have a legally protected right to return; international law does not permit permanent ethnic cleansing.

Providing weapons to a state committing genocide/apartheid violates arms trade treaties and constitutes material complicity. The Zionist army has systematically violated international law from its formation in 1948 till the present day.

States must not support or normalize regimes committing crimes against humanity by trade, investments, import or export. A genocidal colonial entity such as Israel that is implementing apartheid, occupying and ethnically cleansing Palestinian land and people should not be tolerated.

International law criminalizes aiding and abetting atrocity crimes, the state must investigate and prosecute.IOF solders for example should be prosecuted when entering the Netherlands for there role in the occupation, colonisation and genocide of the Palestinans.

Obligation under humanitarian law to assist civilian victims of mass violence. The Dutch government do this in a symbolic way by treating a neglect number of genocide victims.

People fleeing genocide and occupation fall under protection categories in refugee law; deportation or denial is unlawful.

States are responsible for ensuring accountability and they are not enabling illegal acts — failure to investigate is a breach of duty.

Freedom of assembly and political expression are protected rights; criminalizing solidarity is illegal. In the Netherlands, Palestine solidarity activists often get a high sentence, are discriminated against and in some cases even held for months without proper evidence.

Reparative measures are consistent with obligations toward peoples under prolonged occupation.

Cutting aid to a population under siege violates the duty to prevent mass harm and starvation.

IHRA is weaponized to suppress lawful political speech; states may not criminalize anti-colonial expression. It conflates criticism of Israel and Zionism with antisemitism, and is used to silence and criminalize legitimate advocacy for Palestinian rights instead of protecting Jews from real hatred.

States that contributed to destruction share responsibility in restoring civilian life. The Netherlands is highly complicit in the Genocide through funding, weapon trade and diplomatic cover and ties.

International law recognizes armed and unarmed resistance against colonial domination and foreign occupation.

C. Local / Municipal Level

Municipal policy must not normalize or cooperate with a genocidal regime.

Public money and public legitimacy cannot be used for complicity without disclosure.

Public procurement laws forbid contracts with entities involved in grave human rights violations.

Municipal cooperation provides legitimacy and material support — both prohibited under state responsibility.

Cultural & sports appearances serve state propaganda (“sportswashing/environmental washing”); boycotts are a lawful tool used against apartheid (South Africa precedent).

Academic partnerships cannot continue with institutions enabling war crimes without making municipalities complicit.

Economic pressure is a lawful non-violent measure to end crimes when diplomatic remedies fail.

Educating the public is part of municipal responsibility to prevent complicity and uphold human rights commitments.

Provincial alignment extends impact and ensures consistency with human rights obligations.

Municipalities have a responsibility to lobby upward when grave violations of international law are taking place. When the national government fails to act against genocide, apartheid or occupation, change must come from below, from cities and institutions refusing complicity and forcing national policy to shift.