"Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon to protest the ongoing war in the Middle East as well as the rise in racism and Islamophobia. Footage shows protesters waving flags, chanting slogans like ‘refugees are welcome here’ and ‘We want justice now’ as they applauded while listening to speeches near Museumplein. “I think we have to be very careful that a group like Trump and Netanyahu are not going to conquer the world and start a dictatorship again, and we have to fight for that," said one demonstrator. Protester Elena condemned any form of supremacy, calling fascism, colonialism, and other ideologies being practised during the current conflicts gripping the Middle East. "These ideologies and practices and systems that affect many people in Palestine, in Gaza, in the West Bank, also in Lebanon, in Iran, also these imperialist attacks lately," she said. Footage also shows protesters holding placards reading: ‘Fascism destroys more than you love’, ‘Weird guys, those right-wing extremists’ and ‘Fight the war machine, not its refugees’. “Today's day and age is very similar to what's happening in the past, and it's a little bit sad to see history repeat itself after the promise never again was made in 1945," said activist Alex, referring towards the Second World War. Tina, another participant, said that as an immigrant from a place heavily affected by war, she believes multiculturalism strengthens rather than weakens Europe. "I think the main thing I would say in this case is that just acknowledging that your neighbour is different than you and that is exactly what makes it beautiful,” she added. The demonstration comes after tensions in the Middle East escalated after a joint US-Israeli operation against Iranian targets started on February 28 amid diplomatic talks aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear and missile programmes. Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and US military positions in the region, with explosions reported across Gulf countries. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead on the first day, and his son Mojtaba Khamenei was later named as successor."