(MENAFN) A poignant memorial took place Saturday in front of the Sint Servaas Basilica, the Netherlands’ oldest church, where the Olive Tree Foundation honored Palestinian children and journalists who have lost their lives amid Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza.

The event highlighted the staggering human toll, with the names and ages of deceased children from Gaza read aloud during the ceremony. Thousands of children’s shoes were laid out across the square, symbolizing the devastating scale of child fatalities. In addition, photographs and names of journalists killed in Israeli strikes were prominently displayed to spotlight their sacrifice.

Volunteers distributed informational brochures to passers-by to raise awareness about the dire situation in Gaza.

Esther van der Most, director of the Olive Tree Planting Foundation, told media: “This was the 15th commemoration for Palestinian children – who have long suffered from Israeli oppression, long before the war which began in 2023 – and the second for journalists killed in Israel’s attacks on Gaza.”

She emphasized that “the crisis in Gaza did not start on Oct. 7, 2023,” underscoring the importance of recognizing Israel’s prolonged occupation as the root cause of Palestinian suffering. While the ongoing ceasefire is “necessary to allow food into the region,” van der Most argued that it does not constitute “peace or justice” and said, “no agreement can bring justice while Palestine remains occupied and colonized.”

Her statement affirmed the foundation’s commitment to continue advocating until “full freedom is achieved.”

Van der Most also noted the powerful impact of the visual displays at the event, saying the shoes and journalists’ photographs “help people grasp the reality in Gaza.” She highlighted the “unprecedented loss of journalists” and expressed a sense of responsibility “to share their stories and ensure the safety of others reporting from the conflict.”

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