Large crowds gathered in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, to protest against Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza on Saturday, condemning Dutch government for its failure to call out Israel's actions.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters, holding anti-war banners and chanting slogans like "Free Palestine", marched through the streets, urging the Dutch government to take action against Israel's actions in Gaza.
"Since October, I've been going to all the demonstrations with my kids because that's all we can do. I can't believe what I'm seeing with my eyes. I hope this, Inshallah (God willing in Arabic), will end soon because this is not normal. For almost a year, we've been watching blown-up children, blown-up mothers, fathers. I don't have words. It breaks me. It breaks us all. This just has to stop now," said a protester named Marleen.
"We have to stop supporting the Zionist state and we have to stop providing weapons to the Zionist state. It is the end of humanity, and as human beings, we have to make a decision now before it's too late," said Ramin, another protester.
The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 40,099, with a total of 92,609 people wounded since the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict began on October 7, 2023, according to health authorities in the besieged Palestinian enclave on Sunday.
Pro-Palestinian protest in Netherlands challenges govt's stance on Gaza conflict
Pro-Palestinian protest in Netherlands challenges govt's stance on Gaza conflict
Beijing and Shanghai on Monday announced their plan to eliminate the distinction between ordinary and non-ordinary housing starting December 1, and expand tax incentives for property transactions in an effort to bolster the property market. Houses over 140 square meters are usually classified as non-ordinary housing and face higher transaction tax rates.
In accordance with the new policy, the two cities will exempt individuals from a five-percent value-added taxes (VAT) on the sale of non-ordinary properties that have been owned for two years or more.
Industry insiders view the move as a significant benefit for property sellers.
"In the past, the VAT was as high as 5 percent. Now, if a property has been held for over two years, its owner will be exempt from this tax. Take Shanghai for example. Many families own homes worth around 10 million yuan (1.38 million U.S. dollars). Compared with the original purchase price, these homes may have appreciated by about 5 million yuan. Under the previous policy for non-ordinary housing, this 5-million-yuan appreciation would have been taxed at 5 percent, resulting in a tax of 250,000 yuan. However, under the current policy, as long as the property has been held for over two years, this VAT, or 250,000 yuan, is no longer applicable. This policy genuinely reduces the tax burden for property owners selling pre-owned homes," said Yan Yuejin, deputy director of Shanghai E-House Research and Development Institute.
The two cities will also adopt a unified nationwide policy on personal housing deed tax.
For homes measuring 140 square meters or less, the deed tax is reduced to the minimum rate of one percent, while a reduced rate of 1.5 percent applies for properties larger than 140 square meters.
For those purchasing a second home for their family, a reduced deed tax rate of one percent will be levied for properties of 140 square meters or smaller, while a reduced rate of two percent will apply for properties larger than 140 square meters.
Experts said that the adjustment will support the release of both basic and upgrading housing demand.
"We are currently at a critical stage in the real estate market. Both the market's transaction activity and price stability depend on the orderly release of demand. The removal of the distinction between ordinary and non-ordinary residential properties will consistently unlock people's demand for buying their first home or improving their housing situation," said Yan Rong, director of Shanghai Real-estate Science Research Institute.
Beijing, Shanghai to scrap residential housing distinction
