Hague, Netherlands (AP) – Hundreds of people protested Sunday against niton and military spending and against a potential conflict with Iran, two days before a Hague alliance summit seeking to increase the budgets of the Allied protection.

“Let’s invest in peace and lasting energy,” Belgian politician Jos D’Aaese told the crowd in a park not far from the summit.

Although they were billed as a demonstration against NATO and the Gaza war, protesters were joined by Iranians who held banners saying “no war in Iran”, the day after United States launched attacks against the three nuclear countries of Iran.

“We are against war. People want to live a peaceful life,” said 74-year-old Hossein Hamadani, a Iranian living in the Netherlands. Look at the environment. “Things are not good. So why do we spend money on war?” he added.

The Netherlands is waiting for the annual meeting of the 32nd alliance starting Tuesday, with the scheduled leaders to meet on Wednesday.

Government leaders want to make an agreement on an increase in the expenses of defense required by US President Donald Trump. The deal appeared mainly made last week, up to the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez wrote For NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Madrid’s commitment to spend 5% of its gross domestic product in defense “not only would be unreasonable but also counterproductive”

US allies have increased defense spending after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale occupation of Ukraine more than three years ago, but almost a third of them still do not meet the current NATO target for at least 2% of their gross domestic product.

The summit is being protected by the largest ever Dutch security operation, Code called “Orange Shield”, which includes thousands of police and military personnel, drone, non -flight areas and online security experts.

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Associated writer of the Associated Press Molly Quell in The Hague contributed.