Thousands of demonstrators gathered at railway stations across the Netherlands on Thursday to protest the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, demanding an end to the famine and urging the Dutch government to take stronger action against Israel’s blockade.

The largest sit-ins took place at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal, where around 1,500 and 1,000 people took part respectively. Several hundred joined similar actions in The Hague, Utrecht and Leiden, with smaller protests reported in Enschede, Groningen, Eindhoven, Amersfoort, Hengelo, Assen and Den Bosch.

Demonstrators, many carrying pots, pans and placards, made noise to symbolise the lack of food in Gaza and the obstruction of aid deliveries. At Utrecht Centraal, the protest briefly became so crowded that NS staff closed one of the entrances.

In several cities, sit-ins later moved from the stations into city centres. In Amsterdam and Eindhoven, marchers continued on foot through shopping streets. Palestinian flags were widely visible, and many demonstrators wore keffiyehs or red clothing in reference to the earlier “red line” protest movement. Police presence was minimal.

The protests were organised by the Palestinian Community in the Netherlands (PGNL), which distributed flyers calling for sanctions, a weapons embargo and a boycott of Israeli products, broadcaster NOS reported.

The flyers also urged people to press caretaker foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp to take stronger steps, both nationally and within the EU.

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema posted on Instagram on Thursday urging the Dutch government to choose “the side of justice” and forcefully condemn Israeli violence in Gaza. She said the Netherlands should live up to its commitment to human rights in its foreign policy.

The protests came as a proposal by GroenLinks-PvdA and D66 to recall parliament from its summer recess for an emergency debate on Gaza failed to win majority support.

This followed an urgent letter from more than 100 humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, CARE and Médecins sans Frontières, warning of a “massive famine” engulfing Gaza.

The aid groups said their own staff are now queuing for food and at risk of Israeli fire. They urged Veldkamp to convene a European Council meeting and introduce national sanctions in the meantime.

Despite an earlier joint statement by the Netherlands and 25 other countries calling on Israel to stop the war and allow aid in, critics say the government’s response has been far too restrained.

Caretaker prime minister Dick Schoof has remained silent on Gaza, despite widespread reports of famine and targeted attacks on food distribution points.

In the past month, he has commented publicly on visits to Dutch ports and national commemorations, but not on the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine, the NRC said in an analysis.

Public support for Israel’s actions has also declined. According to Ipsos in April, only 32% of VVD voters now back the current policy, and support among PVV voters is even lower, at just 23%.

Despite this shift, the Dutch state remains in a legal battle to continue supplying parts for F-35 jets used by Israel, after a court ruled the transfers must stop. The government has appealed the decision.