Netherlands: Hundreds protest against Israel's West Bank annexation plan

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 14: Hundreds of people on Sunday (June 14) joined a demonstration in Amsterdam, the Netherlands to protest against Israel’s controversial plan to annex a large part of the occupied West Bank.A large number of Dutch, as well as people from various minority groups who participated in the Black Lives Matter protests voiced their rejection against the annexation of West Bank, shouting "Free free Palestine", carrying signs reading such as "Israel shame, blood on your hands", "Palestinian Lives Matter".The protesters gathered in front of the Rijksmuseum, paid attention to the social distancing rules, wearing face masks.At the beginning of the demonstration, people took a knee held an eight-minute silence in memory of George Floyd who died at the hands of a white police officer in the U.S. last month.The Israeli government is currently debating annexation of the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea, which border Jordan, as well as applying sovereignty to over 100 illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank.Israel is expected to carry out the annexation on July 1, as agreed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, the head of the Blue and White party.The plan comes as part of US President Donald Trump’s so-called “Deal of the Century” that was announced on Jan. 28, which refers to Jerusalem as “Israel’s undivided capital” and recognizes Israeli sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank.The plan calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the form of an archipelago connected by bridges and tunnels.Palestinian officials say that under the US plan, Israel will annex 30-40% of the West Bank, including all of East Jerusalem. (Footage by Selman Aksünger/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)