Amsterdam Reels From Continued Unrest Following Clashes Between Israeli Fans, Pro-Palestinians
Tensions in Amsterdam remain high after violent clashes between Israeli football fans and pro-Palestinian demonstrators last week, with unrest continuing overnight, Al Jazeera reports.
Dutch authorities have made several arrests in connection with the incidents, which have been branded “anti-Semitic” by officials.
On Monday night, dozens of individuals, claiming solidarity with Palestinians, gathered in a suburb, setting fire to a tram, smashing windows, and shouting abuse. Police swiftly extinguished the blaze and dispersed the crowd, arresting five individuals between the ages of 18 and 37. This comes on top of over 60 arrests made earlier, following the initial violence which left five injured.
The latest arrests are related to assaults that occurred over the weekend, with police indicating that further arrests may follow. While Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has criticized the low number of arrests, authorities have emphasized the complexity of the situation.
The initial clashes erupted following the match between Dutch club Ajax and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv. Reports and video footage have shown instances of violence and provocation from both sides, with Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans, tearing down Palestinian flags, and wielding scaffolding poles to attack police.
Amsterdam’s Mayor Femke Halsema has condemned the violence, comparing the events to “pogroms” against Jews in European history. However, critics have pointed out that the initial aggression came from the visiting Israeli fans, many of whom had served in the Israeli military.
The city council is holding an emergency debate on Tuesday, with officials planning to present a comprehensive overview of the events. Following the unrest, UEFA announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv’s upcoming match against Turkey’s Besiktas will be moved from Istanbul to Hungary due to security concerns. The match will now be played behind closed doors.
