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Soleful tribute – Dutch activists lay out thousands of shoes to commemorate children, journalists killed in Gaza

Soleful tribute – Dutch activists lay out thousands of shoes to commemorate children, journalists killed in Gaza

"Thousands of children's shoes were placed in Maastricht's Vrijthof Square on Saturday to commemorate Palestinian children killed in Gaza, as part of a memorial action organised by the Plant an Olive Tree community. Footage shows rows of small shoes laid out across the square, as participants held portraits of young victims and journalists killed in Gaza. Signs on display read: '2 years of crimes? No! 77 years of genocide and occupation, and 'Let Gaza live'. "These shoes represent children who were murdered in Gaza in the last two years. We also have signs with the journalists who were murdered – over 300 names and faces of people who were doing their work, telling the truth about the reality on the ground in Gaza when international journalists were not allowed to come inside," activist Esther van der Most said. Another activist, Maria, commented that "the shoes represent the 20,000 or more children" killed in Gaza in the last two years. "I hope, but I don't really believe it's the end. The occupation and apartheid are still there," she added. "I have to say, it’s overwhelming," said Don, another participant. "It’s so absurd that you can hardly believe this really happened." The Gaza ceasefire went into force on Friday as Israeli forces started withdrawing from parts of Gaza. On September 29, Trump unveiled his 20-point Gaza plan alongside Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan itself would see an immediate end to fighting, with the release of all hostages alive or dead within 72 hours, as well as 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans who were detained after October 7. Hamas conditionally accepted the US-brokered plan, offering to release Israeli captives through Qatari and Egyptian mediators if Israel agrees to a lasting peace and full withdrawal. Trump welcomed the response, describing it as a 'very special' moment and 'unprecedented in many ways'."