Amsterdam riots – Israeli fans attack

Violence broke out in the Dutch capital after a football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Everything we know.

what happened?

According to the Amsterdam police, riots broke out in many places in the city center. Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club were attacked and 57 people were temporarily arrested.

“In some parts of the city, fans were mobbed, abused and had fireworks thrown at them,” said mayor Femke Halsema, who condemned the “anti-Semitic behavior”.

Maccabi Amsterdam fans. Image: trapezoid

Several people were injured, according to authorities, and three people were missing, according to Israeli media reports.

The city and law enforcement are investigating the incidents. Authorities are calling on all victims to contact police and file a report.

Who is responsible for the violence?

According to Israeli witnesses, pro-Palestinian youths were responsible for the attack on the fans.

However, specific details were unclear; police initially spoke of a small-scale confrontation and expressed an abundance of caution.

Reporters from Amsterdam TV station AT5 reported that pro-Palestinian demonstrators threw chairs at Maccabi fans as they returned from the stadium to the center on Thursday night. Mobile police units protected the Israelis and escorted them to their hotels in buses.

Nearly 60 people were arrested. Image: trapezoid

Clash before the game

Even before the game, Israeli fans clashed with security forces in the city center. According to police, about ten people were arrested for disturbing public order and prohibiting the possession of fireworks.

Clashes also broke out before the game near the stadium in the city's southeast. According to police, about 200 demonstrators tried to enter the venue. The city government had previously banned demonstrations directly in front of the Johan Cruyff Stadium and designated another nearby location for the rally. Before the game, safety precautions were significantly strengthened.

How did politics react?

The Israeli government now wants to allow Dutch fans to fly out of the country. This was an order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the head of the government office reported. Netanyahu reportedly called on Dutch security forces to take decisive action against the perpetrators of violence and ensure the safety of Israeli fans.

Several Israeli politicians shared the video on social media and spoke of the disturbing and violent scenes of “pro-Palestinian perpetrators hunting Jews.” However, the authenticity of these recordings has not been confirmed. “There will be a bloodbath in Europe in 2024,” Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, commented on X .

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar wrote there: “We are in contact with the Dutch authorities following the serious incident. Any Israeli or Jew who is currently in difficulty or has information about the violence should contact the Situation Center.” Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Shoff said he was discussing “completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis” with Netanyahu.

Radical right-wing populist Geert Wilders spoke on the X program about the hunt for Jews. «Carnage on the streets of Amsterdam. (…) Muslims carrying Palestinian flags hunted down Jews. The German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, also expressed anger at X. “Chasing and beating Israeli fans is not an anti-war protest.” “

Israeli Foreign Minister visits Amsterdam

Israel's new Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar will travel to the Netherlands at short notice, it was reported on Friday morning.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said he hoped to meet with senior representatives of the Dutch government, including his counterparts. Sall will stress the importance of combating anti-Semitism. It is understood that the Israeli Foreign Minister will also meet with members of the local Jewish community.

Israel's new Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar will travel to the Netherlands shortly.Image: trapezoid

(ome/abu material comes from SDA)