A viral video showing a Dutch police officer slamming a heavily pregnant woman to the ground has sparked public outrage.

The pregnant woman was later identified as Wesam Mekdad, a 30-year-old Palestinian refugee from Gaza.

The accident occurred on May 19, 2026, at a temporary asylum-seekers’ centre on Kampweg in Zeist, near Utrecht.

The footage showed Mrs Mekdad with her husband when a police officer holding a security dog aggressively grabbed her by the hand, throwing her to the floor.

Her husband charged at the police in anger but was overpowered by other officers at the scene. 

Mrs Mekdad later gave birth to a baby girl after the incident. 

Speaking from the hospital in a YouTube Video posted by MiddleEastEye, Mrs Mekdad said, “My husband heard his brother in Gaza was dead. He was under stress. So he broke a TV. We were with the police. I wanted to ask the police if I could go with my husband.”

She said the police threw her to the ground while she was talking with her husband.

Public outrage has followed the viral video, with many condemning the action on social media.

UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, posted the video on X, saying, “Dutch friends. If you tolerate this, then your children will be next” (cit).

“Imagine this was Moscow or Beijing?  It’s not its Holland in the centre of EU values and decency. A pregnant woman is thrown to the ground, dragged by the hair. Her husband, of course, reacted and fought the Police,” Chat Bowes, an Irish journalist, wrote on X.

Another X user, @Truthtellerftm, said, “Dutch police showing the world who they are, assaulting a 37-week pregnant woman! How civilised!

“Footage has gone viral showing a Dutch death squad officer forcefully throwing a pregnant woman to the ground during an arrest, raising questions about the use of force!  Her Palestinian partner lunged at the officer in protest.”

Amid the public outrage over the viral video, the Dutch police announced they were investigating the incident.

“We are aware of the footage and understand the concerns expressed by the community,” a Dutch police spokesperson said in a statement.

“The actions of our officers are being reviewed against our standard protocols to determine whether the force applied was justified under the circumstances.”