PART 1: Dancing for Israel, handcuffs for Palestine
Hundreds gathered at Dam Square on Thursday evening for a rally by Op de Bres voor Israรซl. Amid arrests and violence, our footage shows people dancing with Israeli flags on a square with a long history of war commemoration, while a short distance away pro-Palestinian counter-protesters were being arrested with force.
Around thirty counter-protesters had gathered near the National Monument. Dozens were arrested; police have not released exact figures.
According to another journalist present, a man on the pro-Israel side hit someone. We did not record the assault, but our footage appears to show him being arrested. Officers let him go. A second man told us he was hit by masked Pro Israel attendees and he intends to file a police report. A third violent incident was witnessed by us. In none of the three cases was the alleged aggressor taken away.
At Oude Turfmarkt, police held a group of counter-protesters in a cordon for roughly two hours. A woman became unwell. A bystander who says she is trained in medical and emergency response told Whispering Media that police refused to let the woman leave and initially refused to call emergency services. When she tried to help herself, officers threatened her with pepper spray, she said. Our footage shows an ambulance arrived about thirty minutes later.
Another protester was knocked to the ground and, according to information received by Whispering Media, broke an arm in three places. The person is undergoing surgery today. We will report further once more is confirmed.
Seven tourists were also taken away in a detention bus. Our footage shows two of them surrounded by officers moments after leaving a shop with a purchase. They were not part of the counter-protest.
Two journalists were pushed by the ME. They file a complaint.
The footage raises specific questions. Why could one side dance and wave flags while those protesting the destruction of Gaza were arrested with force? Why were men accused of violence not taken away, while counter-protesters and even tourists were? And on what grounds did police decide who went into the detention bus?
Whispering Media will put these questions to the police.
@de_weeteri Hallo petra bij ons in stjansklooster en omgeving heten ze mietsen hele kleine mugjes die je niet ziet komen vooral in plekken waar veel rietland is bij ons dus weerribben en wieden .
Ze komen ongeveer eind april en vertrekken weer op de langste dag 21 juni