The Speaker of Parliament, Martin Bosma, belonging to the far-right Freedom Party, considered that the attire of the deputy violated the principle of political neutrality required in appearance within the Parliament. Although he initially hinted at the possibility of allowing her to stay, objections from other party leaders led him to enforce the regulations and request her to leave.
Ouwehand initially refused to comply and challenged Bosma, stating that if she had violated the regulations, he should expel her himself, before leaving the hall in protest. A video documenting the incident, including her return with a watermelon blouse, spread widely on social media, where her supporters praised her action as a courageous stance, while opponents saw it as reflective of the growing divide regarding the Israeli war on Gaza.
The Dutch government was accused of failing to acknowledge this crisis or take a clear stance. In a post on her Instagram account, she wrote: “When the government refuses to acknowledge genocide and refrains from taking action, it becomes our duty to continue showing solidarity with the Palestinians. Free.” Israel continues its war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, a war that has claimed the lives of approximately 64,000 Palestinians and about 163,000 injured. It also carries out repeated airstrikes on several countries in the region, most notably Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Qatar, in addition to its war on Iran that lasted 12 days.
