November 8 – Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof has condemned anti-semitic attacks on a group of Israeli fans as the war in Gaza spilled perilously into the footballing arena on Thursday as Ajax took on Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Authorities said 62 people were arrested and five injured in Amsterdam after rioters assaulted Maccabi supporters following the Europa League fixture.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X that he followed reports of the violence, widely reported across Europe, “with horror”.
“Completely unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis. I am in close contact with everyone involved,” he added, saying that he assured Israel “the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted.”
Police are reported to have opened a major investigation after rioters “actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them” following the game while Israel announced it was sending planes to the Dutch capital to fly fans home.
“In several places in the city, supporters were attacked. The police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels. Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli supporters have been injured,” Dutch authorities said in a statement.
“This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way.”
The violence erupted despite a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations near the Ajax stadium imposed by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, who had feared that clashes would break out between protesters and supporters of the Israeli club.
A statement from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that “the harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked,” and that Netanyahu “views the horrifying incident with utmost gravity.” He demanded that the Dutch government take “vigorous and swift action” against those involved.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke of a ‘pogrom’ against Maccabi fans though videos posted to social media appear to show Maccabi Tel Aviv fans also creating trouble by chanting racist slogans about Arabs and Palestine, as well as climbing on a building to tear down a Palestinian flag.
Social media users said the videos were from before the attack on the Israelis. Footage from the stadium also appeared to show Maccabi fans jeering and whistling during a minute’s silence for those killed in floods in Valencia.
Some Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have previously been involved in racist incidents back home, including swearing at the team’s own Palestinian and Arab players and attacking protesters demonstrating against Netanyahu’s policies.
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