On May 6, 2025, a student protest against academic ties with Israel, taking place in The Hague, was violently broken up. According to the organizers, there were 20 injuries, 5 of whom lost consciousness. Ambulance personnel were also needed to treat the injured. The Hague City Party was present and witnessed shocking events suggesting that the police are handling demonstrations in an entirely new manner.
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Written Questions: Police Violence at Pro-Palestinian Demonstration
Submitted by: Fatima Faïd (The Hague City Party), Hera Butt (GreenLeft), Robin Smit (Party for the Animals)
Date: May 6, 2025
To the Chair of the Municipal Council,
On May 6, 2025, a pro-Palestinian demonstration took place on and near the campus of Leiden University at Wijnhaven. The police used considerable force during this event. So far, the number of reported injuries stands at five.
In accordance with Article 30 of the Rules of Procedure, council members Faïd, Butt, and Smit submit the following questions:
The questions of The Hague City Party, supported by GroenLinks and the Partij voor de Dieren:
- Can the Mayor and alderman send a detailed account of the facts to the municipal council?
For every instance of force used, officers must write a report.
- Can the Mayor and alderman send the reports of force written by the various officers who used force at this demonstration to the council?
- Did the police attempt to establish contact with the demonstrators in order to reach a peaceful resolution? If not, why not?
- At every demonstration, so-called “peace” officers are present to ensure that as little force as possible is used. Can the Mayor and alderman indicate whether these officers were deployed? If not, why not?
- Is it true that the police proceeded with dispersal almost immediately? Can the Mayor and alderman state whether this was at the university’s request? How much time elapsed between the start of the demonstration and the dispersal?
- Can the Mayor and alderman indicate who gave the order to disperse the demonstration?
- Can the Mayor and alderman indicate whether the “triad” (mayor, police, and public prosecutor) or involved organizations have a new standard procedure for dealing with occupations? If so, can this framework be sent to the council?
Video footage shows that a group of demonstrators was “kettled.” It then shows an officer striking at least one demonstrator on the head three times. (Footage can be requested from the Hague City Party.) The officer appears to be in a leading role. Other demonstrators also appear to have been hit on the head.
- Do the Mayor and alderman agree with the submitters that this violence does not comply with police use-of-force guidelines (which state that blows to the head should be avoided)? If not, why not?
- Do the Mayor and alderman agree with the submitters that no violence was necessary at that moment? If not, why not?
- Can the Mayor and alderman send the use-of-force reports from this action to the council? If not, why not?
- Can the Mayor and alderman indicate what consequences an officer faces if it is determined that they used inappropriate and unnecessary force?
- Witnesses saw this officer later giving high-fives to colleagues. Do the Mayor and alderman consider this appropriate behavior for officers in the city of peace and justice?
The injured demonstrator was shortly thereafter escorted out of the demonstration by a medical aid worker from the organization.
- Is it true that the police made it impossible for the demonstrators’ own medical team to do their work? If so, why?
- Witnesses report that even the summoned ambulance personnel were blocked by the police. Can the Mayor and alderman indicate how long it took before the demonstrator with a gaping head wound received first aid?
- Can the Mayor and alderman explain why the police obstructed the work of the paramedics, even though there was no threatening situation that would have prevented them from working?
Media reports mention five injured, some of whom lost consciousness.
- Can the Mayor and alderman explain how it is possible that so many demonstrators lost consciousness?
- Is it true that the police forcibly placed random (bystanding) people among the demonstrators? If so, why? If not, why are there witness accounts of this?
- In the council meeting of 30-03-2023 (!!), the Mayor and alderman made a promise to the Hague City Party to share the escalation ladder with the council. This has still not happened. Can this finally be done within two weeks?
- In the context of this demonstration, can the Mayor and alderman indicate using the escalation ladder at what point the police deemed it necessary to act in a threatening and non-de-escalating manner?
- Can the Mayor and alderman indicate what the precise reason was for kettling large groups when the occupation was already over?
- Can the Mayor and alderman indicate why so many police officers and vehicles were ready to intervene at this demonstration? Who made that decision?
- Can the Mayor and alderman indicate why 75 demonstrators were arrested?
- Who gave the order to arrest these demonstrators?
- Witnesses report that police officers told demonstrators that a “permit” was required to demonstrate, and that because it wasn’t obtained, police were allowed to use force. What is the view of the Mayor and alderman on these statements by officers?
- The submitters have heard this claim from officers during other demonstrations as well. Do the Mayor and alderman agree with the submitters that the Hague police may need a refresher course in the right to protest if officers are actually saying this?
- How do the Mayor and alderman reflect on the police’s approach?
- Do the Mayor and alderman consider the police escalation to be proportionate and appropriate in The Hague?
- What is the view of the Mayor and alderman on police violence against demonstrators in The Hague?
In another video, a journalist filming with his phone has it knocked out of his hand by an officer. He is accused of filming the police.
- What is the view of the Mayor and alderman on this footage?
- Is it normal for an officer to slap phones out of the hands of demonstrators or even journalists? If not, what steps are being taken to hold officers accountable for this behavior?
- Filming the police is legally permitted. Can the Mayor and alderman explain why the officer used this as an excuse for his behavior?
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