Netherlands refused to display posters of Israeli hostages

Israel's Public Diplomacy Directorate, with support from the Government Publicity Bureau (LAPAM), has launched an outdoor advertising campaign in the Netherlands to raise awareness for the release of kidnapped Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity.

The campaign was scheduled to coincide with various information and public events related to the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

As part of the campaign, photographs of the abducted individuals, along with their names, were prepared for publication on billboards.

The inscriptions highlighted that they were being held captive in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing, "He/She can't testify today" ("He/She will not be able to testify today").

The primary message conveyed by the posters is that the 136 abductees are held captive by Hamas, preventing them from testifying at the Hague Tribunal.

The Public Diplomacy Directorate states that these individuals are victims and witnesses of genocide, crimes against humanity, and ongoing war crimes committed by Hamas during their captivity.

Despite attempts to collaborate with billboard companies in The Hague, Rotterdam, and Schiphol Airport, all 10 firms refused to cooperate with the campaign.

One company initially agreed to the poster design and message but canceled the installation of the stands just before the posters were scheduled to appear on billboards.

Despite these challenges, awareness initiatives are planned across Europe in the coming days. Moshik Aviv, head of the Public Diplomacy Directorate, remains determined in the face of attempts to silence the campaign.

He asserted, "Efforts to silence us will be met with a resounding response. Israel will persist in defending its just position and sharing the truth globally through an unprecedented international information campaign. No one can silence us, no matter what."