ALBAWABA – On Sunday, a Dutch politician wore clothes in the colors of the Palestinian flag inside parliament as a way to show support for Palestinians and protest her country's stance on Gaza.
Esther Ouwehand, the head of the Party for the Animals, was seen on camera walking through the chamber in a shirt with the colors of the Palestinian flag: red, green, white, and black. Videos of the event spread quickly on social media and got a lot of people talking.
Later, she was seen speaking in the same clothes. The Speaker told Ouwehand to change her clothes before she came back into the hall. She did, and she wore an outfit with a watermelon print, which is a well-known symbol of Palestinian identity.
Her action came at a time when support for recognizing Palestinian statehood is growing in Europe and beyond. On Sunday, Britain, Australia, and Canada officially recognized Palestine, joining a number of other Western countries.
Before the UN General Assembly meeting, nine countries, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, and San Marino, said they would recognize Palestine. Later in the day, Portugal is expected to follow.
At the end of the session, 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations will officially recognize the State of Palestine.
