Violence Erupts in Amsterdam as Israeli Fans Attacked During Europa League Match
On Thursday, violence erupted in Amsterdam, Netherlands, as Israeli fans supporting the Maccabi Tel Aviv football team were violently attacked during clashes related to a Europa League match against Ajax. Reports indicate that dozens of individuals were arrested, with at least ten Israeli fans suffering injuries during the fray.
The assaults occurred post-match, as groups chanting pro-Palestinian slogans targeted the Israeli fans. In response, the Israeli government condemned the attacks as antisemitic. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered two planes to repatriate the affected fans, ensuring their safe return to Israel amidst escalating tensions.
The violence did not emerge in a vacuum; it followed two days of intensifying strife. A planned pro-Palestinian demonstration, initially set to coincide with the arrival of Israeli supporters, was banned and relocated to a less central area of the city.
In the hours leading up to the match, groups of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans gathered and were reported to chant offensive slogans against Palestinians. Dutch media also reported an incident where these fans removed and burned a Palestinian flag that was hanging from a balcony.
As night fell, police recounted incidents where small groups of Israeli fans were ambushed and attacked in organized assaults. Video footage shared on social media, which remains unverified by major outlets, depicted the brutality of these encounters, showing attackers hurling insults in Arabic before physically assaulting the fans—somewhile they were on the ground. Reports indicated that in some instances, weapons such as sticks and knives were used against the Israeli supporters. Yaakov Masri, an assaulted fan, recounted these harrowing details to Israeli television Channel 13.
By early Friday, Israeli authorities reported that some fans who had traveled to Amsterdam were currently unreachable. Israel’s Minister for National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, advised compatriots in the Netherlands to remain in their hotel rooms, condemning the violence as acts of antisemitism carried out with severe brutality. Although Dutch police confirmed at least 57 arrests, they did not specifically mention antisemitism in their statements. Arrests reportedly stemmed from altercations between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and law enforcement, as well as the attacks on Israeli fans.
The day's events unfolded against the backdrop of Israel's long-standing participation in European football competitions, which began in the 1990s. However, since October 7, 2023, UEFA, the governing body of European football, mandated that matches originally scheduled to be hosted in Israel would instead occur on neutral grounds, with most clubs opting for Eastern European locations like Hungary.
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