Jetten will not join Sunday's Gaza protest in Amsterdam

Prime Minister Rob Jetten will not attend Sunday's protest by Rode Lijn (Red Line) against the continuing violence in Gaza. At his weekly press conference on Friday, he said it would be "not appropriate" for him to be there.

The fourth Rode Lijn demonstration will start from the Museumplein in Amsterdam on Sunday 8 November. More than 150 organisations besides the initiators are involved, and the parties Volt and Pro have called on people to attend. The organisers are protesting against the Dutch government's passive stance on Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

Jetten gave two reasons for staying away. The first, he said, is that the protest is aimed at the policy of the cabinet he now leads.

The second is his position. Last year, when he sat in opposition, Jetten did attend a Rode Lijn protest. He said he had a "different role" then. As prime minister, he said, attending would not suit that role.

The change in role also shows in his language. As head of government, Jetten does not want to speak of a genocide in Gaza. Last year, he did use that word.

The cabinet's position is that only international courts, the UN or scientific research can determine whether genocide is taking place in Gaza. As head of government, Jetten now keeps to that line. That is a different stance from the one he took as an opposition MP last year.