The Hague— Dutch MP Esther Ouwehand, leader of the Party for the Animals (PvdD), staged a bold protest in parliament after being ordered to leave for wearing a blouse in the colours of the Palestinian flag during a budget debate on Thursday, as per a report by the TRT Global.
House Speaker Martin Bosma of the far-right PVV insisted on “neutral clothing” in the chamber, and after objections from other party leaders, he enforced the rule. Ouwehand refused to comply, daring the Speaker to remove her, before walking out of the chamber in protest.
Shortly after, she returned wearing a blouse patterned with red watermelons — a widely recognised symbol of Palestinian solidarity — and was allowed to continue presenting her proposals without further resistance.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, with supporters praising her defiance as an act of solidarity with Palestinians, while critics said it highlighted the deepening divisions in Europe over Israel’s war in Gaza.
During the same debate, Denk party leader Stefan van Baarle wore a Palestinian flag pin, while members of the BBB party displayed yellow ribbons in support of Israeli prisoners in Gaza. Parliament does not have a fixed dress code, leaving enforcement to the Speaker’s discretion, a practice that has often sparked controversy.
Ouwehand later explained her action on Instagram, stating that her attire was a way to criticise the government’s refusal to recognise what she described as genocide in Gaza. “When the Cabinet refuses to acknowledge the genocide and refuses to take action, it is our duty to continue to show solidarity with the Palestinians. Free Palestine,” she wrote.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli military operations since October 2023 have killed more than 65,000 people and wounded over 165,000, deepening international outrage and calls for accountability.
