An Iranian Stranger’s Truth on Dam Square

A Stranger on Dam Square: A Moment I Will Never Forget

Some people cross your path and vanish from your memory like leaves in the wind. Others, though strangers, leave an imprint so deep that you carry them with you for a lifetime. For me, one of those people appeared in the heart of Amsterdam, on Dam Square — during one of our weekly “Truth for Israel” gatherings.

For those unfamiliar, every week we stand on Dam Square to show support for Israel and counter the relentless stream of misinformation spread by pro-Hamas, BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions), and anti-Israel activists. They come armed with posters — often grotesquely misrepresenting photos from Syria, Yemen, or Iraq as if they depict Gaza, blaming Israel for atrocities that have nothing to do with it. And this wasn’t after October 7, 2023. This was back in 2017, when Gaza was under the control of Hamas, and yet relatively stable — not the war zone their posters would have you believe.

We set up at one side of the square, while the pro-Hamas mob took the other. Israeli music played, flags waved, and Israeli tourists visiting Amsterdam would often stop by, relieved and grateful to see not only hatred on display, but also Israeli flags standing tall, proudly, in the middle of Europe.

Then he appeared.

A tall, well-dressed man, exuding quiet sophistication — not the usual aggressive agitator we often saw waving anti-Israel propaganda. In his hands, he carried a handful of BDS flyers from the other side. But his demeanor was different: calm, curious, focused. He stood near our table, reading through our materials while still clutching the leaflets of lies he’d been handed.

After a few minutes, he approached me and asked, very politely:
“Can you explain what the situation between Israel and Gaza really is?”

I gladly took the opportunity. I explained how Gaza has been independent since Israel’s withdrawal in 2005, how the security fence exists to stop terrorist attacks on innocent Israelis. How Israel is far from the “apartheid state” it’s so often falsely accused of being — a place where Arabs serve in parliament, the judiciary, the military, and work alongside Jewish Israelis as equal citizens. How Israeli hospitals treat patients regardless of ethnicity, religion, or nationality, including Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank.

He listened quietly, still holding those flyers, absorbing every word. When I finished, I asked him if he wanted to know more. He smiled and said, “Thank you.” He looked at our materials again with a sense of resolution.

Curious, I asked where he was from.
His answer left me stunned: “Iran.”

My face must have shown my surprise, but he continued:
“In Iran, from childhood, we are taught that Israel is the devil, the enemy. But we are an intelligent people. Many of us know it cannot be true. We remember history — we used to be friends, allies. Your story confirms what I’ve long suspected. Don’t worry — we, the people of Iran, won’t tolerate this forever. One day, there will be another revolution, and we will stand side by side with the Israelis once again.”

It was a powerful, rare moment of human connection in a place so often dominated by lies and hostility.

Unfortunately, our conversation was cut short. A group of Arab-looking young men came over, causing trouble as they did nearly every week — pulling down our flyers, shouting insults, trying to intimidate us. The man quickly apologized:
“I cannot be in pictures. I must go.”
And with that, he disappeared into the crowd.

I’ve thought of him often since that day in 2017. The revolution he hoped for hasn’t come yet. Iran remains under the grip of an oppressive regime that threatens Israel, oppresses its own people, and destabilizes the region through proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah.

But I hope he’s safe. I hope he continues to hold that clarity and courage in his heart. In a world drowning in propaganda and hatred, his wisdom was a rare, precious thing.

We need more people like him — people who seek truth, listen, and have the courage to think differently than what their rulers demand. People who remember that we were once friends, and can be again.

Am Yisrael Chai.