Around 1,000 people took part in Sunday’s demonstration in Amsterdam in support of the people of Gaza and there was a heavy police presence.

Amsterdam city council had earlier announced demonstrators would not be allowed to cover their faces and that flags showing support for the militant Islamic movement IS would be banned.

The demonstration began on the Museumplein at around 15.00 hours with speeches. ‘We are not here against the Jewish people. We are here in protest at Israel’s Zionist policies,’ demonstration organiser Karim Boulidam is quoted as saying by the Parool.

Free Palestine

Some of the demonstrators wore Palestinian scarves and carried banners with the text ‘Timmermans stop the apartheid now’ and ‘Freedom for Palestine’. There were also placards denouncing public broadcaster Nos for alleged bias in its reporting of the fighting.

Nos reported that a small group of people wearing Occupy masks on the back of their heads were spoken to by police. In addition one demonstrator was picked up by police for aggressive behaviour when asked to show his flag.

A small group were carrying black flags with Arabic texts and shouted ‘Allah Akbar,’ Arabic for ‘Allah is great’, news agency ANP said.

At around 16.30, demonstrators moved off in a procession through town – following a route which avoided Jewish buildings, shopping streets and places where Gay Pride is being celebrated, the Parool said.

Ajax

The organisers had asked the crowd not to react if they faced provocation from Ajax football supporters. Ajax played PEC Zwolle later on Sunday for the Johan Cruijff plate – the ceremonial opening of the new football season.

The high police profile and proactive approach was in sharp contrast to the pro-Gaza rally in The Hague last weekend.

It was attended by fewer than 100 people and was marred by demonstrators chanting ‘death to Jews’ and carrying IS flags. The city’s mayor Jozias van Aartsen was heavily criticised by Jewish groups for failing to intervene.