ISRAELI President Isaac Herzog’s presence at the opening of a Holocaust museum in Amsterdam has sparked protests over Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Activists calling for a ceasefire gathered in a square near the National Holocaust Museum, in the city’s Jewish quarter.
Some people protesting were, themselves, Jewish.
Both Palestinian and Israeli flags were seen being held by demonstrators.
Some protesters climbed onto police vans, and riot police beat them away as they started to throw fireworks and eggs, Dutch media outlet De Telegraaf reported.
Signs were seen reading “Jews against genocide”, and “The grandchild of a holocaust survivor says: Stop Gaza Holocaust.”
The museum said it had invited Mr Herzog before the Hamas attack on 7 October, which led to Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza.
In a statement, it said it recognised Mr Herzog’s attendance raised questions, but added that he represented the homeland of Dutch Holocaust survivors who had emigrated to Israel.
In a speech, Israel’s president said the museum would “remember the horrors born of hatred, antisemitism and racism”.
“Unfortunately ‘never again’ is now, right now. Because right now, hatred and antisemitism are flourishing worldwide and we must fight it together,” he said.
