Amsterdam Violence: 62 Arrested After Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Mayhem
Authorities in Amsterdam have arrested 62 individuals following violent incidents surrounding the football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday night. Mayor Femke Halsema characterized the violence as abhorrent, describing it as hit-and-run attacks on Maccabi supporters perpetrated by young men on scooters, which has sparked international outrage.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the incidents, labeling the actions as antisemitic violence directed at Israelis. U.S. President Joe Biden called the attacks despicable, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew parallels between the night’s events and Kristallnacht, the coordinated Nazi attacks against Jews in Germany in 1938, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 91 Jewish individuals.
The situation escalated on Wednesday evening when Maccabi fans removed a Palestinian flag from a building in central Amsterdam, shouted offensive remarks, and vandalized a taxi. Peter Holla, the police chief of Amsterdam, reported that the confrontations escalated throughout the match day. The Dutch Public Prosecution confirmed that the arrests occurred both before and during the match that commenced at 8 PM local time.
At a recent press conference, Halsema and law enforcement officials revealed that the violence had left five individuals hospitalized and caused minor injuries to 20 to 30 others. Among the reported acts of aggression were the use of fireworks, assaults leading to some fans being thrown into canals, and demands for identity checks from Maccabi supporters trying to return to their hotels.
Four suspects, including two minors, remain in detention on charges of public violence, with court appearances scheduled for this week. Of the other arrested individuals, about 40 were charged with public disorder, fined, and subsequently released. Ten others were charged with various offenses, including vandalism and possession of illegal fireworks, while some faced lesser charges for resisting police and failing to provide identification.
In response to the violence, authorities declared a state of emergency in Amsterdam and the nearby suburb of Amstelveen. All demonstrations have been banned, and security measures around Jewish institutions have been tightened, granting police increased authority to stop and search individuals. A planned pro-Palestinian demonstration was dismantled by authorities on Sunday due to the prohibition, with protesters gathering nonetheless at Dam Square, calling for an end to violence in Gaza and demanding a free Palestine.
Local police chief Olivier Dutilh stated that the demonstration ban is necessary to counter the rise of antisemitic incidents that transpired around that time. Protest organizers expressed their outrage at being labeled antisemitic for their protests, insisting that such charges only serve to suppress Palestinian resistance.
On Saturday, the Netherlands faced its own history of scrutiny regarding its actions during World War II, with the Jewish population suffering devastating losses, particularly in Amsterdam where many were deported to death camps. Governments have been criticized for profiting from the transportation of Jews to these camps, and an official investigation into the complicity of Amsterdam's authorities during the Nazi occupation is expected soon.
On the anniversary of Kristallnacht, a press conference was held by the Jewish anti-Zionist organization Erev Rav, demanding accountability for the violence inflicted on Maccabi fans. During the presser, Yuval Gal of Erev Rav claimed that Dutch police have not adequately addressed the aggression displayed by Maccabi supporters leading up to the ensuing chaos.
The Amsterdam police chief noted the escalation of tensions leading to Thursday's violence, emphasizing that the disturbances involved criminal acts rather than protest-related activities. Amid clashes and counter-protests, social media footage revealed Maccabi fans engaging in provocative chants.
As protests and unrest continue, Halsema stressed that while awareness of local tensions is crucial, the violence of Thursday night transcended protest and was rooted in criminality.
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