Group of civil servants and former diplomats also wants to commemorate Gaza with alternative dead commemoration

Even en route through the desert of Jordan, former diplomat Tessa Terpstra held two minutes of silence on 4 May. Then she told her children « how wars arise and what the role of the Netherlands is. » But « since the genocide in Gaza and the looking away of Dutch dignitaries who remember the victims of the Second World War on Dam Square, » Terpstra, who now works at an aid organization, receives « abdominal pain » of the National Remembrance Day.

She points it out arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the preliminary statement of the International Court of Appeal, which sees sufficient indications of continuing the genocide store of South Africa against Israel. « Those courts are in The Hague, but the Netherlands is not calling Israel to account, » says Terpstra.

Our commemoration is a supplement, not competition

On 4 May she organizes ‘4 May Including’, an alternative commemoration of the dead in The Hague. The initiators are civil servants and former diplomats who got to know each other in weekly protest against the Dutch Israel policy. They explicitly keep the commemoration in a personal title.

« We want to reflect on all the victims of genocide, war, persecution and oppression. That is exactly what, in our opinion, is meant when we promised: » never again.  » During the commemoration, the photographer Mohammed Alzaanoun and former PvdA politician and Holocaust survivor Hedy d’Ancona speaks from Gaza. There is also attention for the Bosnian war and the colonial past.

Long tradition

Not only this alternative commemoration takes place, Justice Minister David van Weel (VVD) also announced this week that he « worried » that 4 May is « disturbed by demonstrations. » He called for ‘worthy commemorations’ on Tuesday. Also last year, when the Gaza war was busy for a few months, there was a fear of protest. Non -significant incidents were not forthcoming.

Why does the alternative commemoration necessarily have to be on 4 May? « I understand that people might be angry that is being torn in that day, » says Terpstra. « But I hear from many others that they do not feel represented in the current formula. That is why our commemoration is a supplement, not competition. »

In writing, the National Committee 4 and 5 May sets « the call to » understand « attention to victims of conflicts worldwide. Attention « for (in) freedom today is important, » writes the committee. « However, the national commemoration is not the time to stand still, then Dutch victims of war violence and oppression are central. » The committee points out that on 4 May « hundreds of commemorations take place », each with « its own interpretation, within the guidelines ».

The debate shows « the vitality of the commemoration tradition, » says Frank van Vree, emeritus professor of history of war, conflict and memory

Discussion about 4 May fits in with a ‘long tradition’, says Frank van Vree, emeritus professor of history of war, conflict and memory of the University of Amsterdam. « For example, Homosexuals continued as early as the sixties for attention in the commemoration of the dead. » The official memorial text Changed in 2022. Then victims of the colonial war were added in Indonesia. According to Van Vree, attention to ‘other things’ such as the war in Vietnam, Racism or Gaza is « in a long tradition of groups that think that there should be not only about violence in the past, but also about violence and injustice now. » Such debate shows « the vitality of the commemoration tradition. »

Vicious circle

Thinking « about whom we commemorate is an important part of the commemoration and the run -up to it, » says the committee. It is these social discussions that make it visible where we stand still, and what value this has for our society. ” In the book published precisely this month 80 times 2 minutes (« For anyone who wants to know what the Second World War not only means today, but will also mean in the future ») The committee (non-) fiction authors will reflect on the commemoration.

Criticism of the commemoration of the dead and the meaning that right -wing parties mainly attribute ensure that « the commemoration loses meaning ». That says cultural historian David Wertheim, cultural historian and author of What is it about when it comes to Jews? Wertheim sees that one believes that the commemoration of the dead « is dazzling » by also paying attention to Gaza, while others think that only « never » blind « for current suffering. « This is a vicious circle, » according to Wertheim, where « every choice becomes politicized. » « That’s how the moral apple of » Never again Auschwitz. « 

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