The Hague, October 23 (RHC)-- Supporters of Palestine have held a demonstration at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, calling for action against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Activists from the Extinction Rebellion spin-off Justice Now on Monday afternoon gathered on a bridge in front of The Hague-based court, carrying a banner that read “Netanyahu is a war criminal.”  Otis, a spokesman for the group, said the organization “stands with oppressed people everywhere.”   “It is the same system of oppression creating the climate crisis that is causing this crisis.”

The Dutch branch of the activist group, which was originally set up to campaign against climate change, has staged several other pro-Palestinian actions since October 7.  At least 19 activists who blocked the entrance to the ICC building were arrested for a short time.

“The demonstration did not cause any disturbance to the ICC normal activities. The situation was addressed by the ICC security with the police,” said ICC spokeswoman Sonia Robla.  The demonstrators also denounced Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who was in Israel to meet with Netanyahu.

The United States and its Western allies have expressed unconditional support for the Israeli onslaught on Gaza.  The ICC is investigating atrocities carried out by Israeli authorities in the Gaza Strip dating back to 2014. The probe also covers the current war.

More than 5,000 people have been killed and over 15,000 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since October 7, when Hamas launched a multi-pronged operation into the Israeli-occupied territories of Palestine.

The Israeli attacks on Gaza have targeted places of gathering, including hospitals, schools, mosques and churches, displacing about 1.4 million in the densely-populated region, which is home to more than 2.3 million people.