Antisemitic Violence Erupts in Amsterdam After Soccer Match, Israeli Fans Targeted
A wave of violence erupted in Amsterdam after a Europa League soccer match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, with Israeli fans becoming targets of attacks that Dutch authorities are calling antisemitic, The Associated Press reports.
The violence, which occurred on Thursday night, saw groups of rioters actively seeking out and assaulting Israeli supporters, according to a joint statement released by Amsterdam’s municipality, police, and prosecution office. The statement condemned the attacks as “unacceptable” and “indefensible.”
“This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way,” the statement said. “There is no excuse for the antisemitic behavior exhibited last night by rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them.”
While the exact number of injured and arrests remains unclear, the statement confirms that several incidents occurred throughout the city. Police were forced to intervene on multiple occasions, protecting Israeli fans and escorting them to hotels.
The violence erupted despite a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the stadium, imposed by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema in an attempt to prevent clashes between protesters and Israeli fans.
Ahead of the match, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that a Palestinian flag was ripped from a building in the city center and riot police blocked pro-Palestinian supporters attempting to march towards the Johan Cruyff Arena stadium.
Israel has condemned the violence, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for a swift and vigorous response from Dutch authorities. His office stated that the “harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked,” and called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also denounced the attacks, calling them “completely unacceptable” and vowing to track down and prosecute the perpetrators.
The incidents have sparked outrage in both Israel and the Netherlands. Geert Wilders, a Dutch nationalist lawmaker and staunch ally of Israel, condemned the attacks as a “Jew hunt” and called for the arrest and deportation of those involved.
Israel has sent two planes to Amsterdam to bring home the Israeli fans who were caught up in the violence. The Europa League match itself ended with a 5-0 victory for Ajax.
