By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies
Amsterdam, Netherlands — A violent outbreak targeting Israeli football fans unfolded in the heart of Amsterdam late last night, shocking city officials and sparking widespread condemnation. The attack came as supporters of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv, in the city for a Europa League match against Ajax, faced what Mayor Femke Halsema described as an “explosion of antisemitism.”
The assault began Thursday evening with groups of youths, many on scooters, orchestrating “hit-and-run” attacks, reportedly seeking out Israeli fans with chants of “Jewish” and “IDF,” referring to the Israeli Defense Forces. Police chief Peter Holla, who later described the violence as “one of the largest police actions in recent memory,” admitted that controlling the rapid, targeted assaults proved extremely difficult despite substantial police presence.
Fans Under Siege
Adi Reuben, a 24-year-old Maccabi Tel Aviv fan visiting Amsterdam, recounted being set upon by over ten men who attacked him after asking where he and his friends were from. “They were shouting ‘Palestine,’” Reuben told reporters. Knocked to the ground, he suffered a broken nose and could not see properly for some time. His experience mirrored that of other fans who were reportedly cornered and attacked throughout the city, forcing many to seek refuge in hotels.
Esther Voet, editor of a Dutch Jewish newspaper, opened her doors to Israeli fans, offering them shelter amid the violence. “People were really scared,” Voet said, expressing disbelief over the wave of anti-Jewish sentiment in her city. The attacks resulted in several injuries, with five fans requiring hospitalization. Between 20 and 30 others suffered minor injuries.
A History Repeating?
Halsema did not mince words when addressing the situation, describing it as reminiscent of historical pogroms against Jews. “Not only did people get injured, but the history of our city has been deeply damaged, and Jewish culture has been threatened,” she remarked somberly.
The violence occurred as Dutch citizens prepared to commemorate Kristallnacht, the notorious anti-Jewish pogroms that swept Germany in 1938. That painful historical parallel was not lost on President Isaac Herzog of Israel, who took to social media to label the attacks as a “pogrom” and urged Dutch authorities to act decisively.
Authorities Take Action
In response to the violence, Dutch police mobilized to shield Maccabi fans, ultimately relocating them to a safe area and arranging for buses to transport them out of the city. Amsterdam police confirmed the arrest of 62 individuals involved in the violence, including several minors, as they scrambled to address what they called a “new kind of antisemitism.”
The police investigation is ongoing, but Mayor Halsema cautioned against assumptions about the attackers’ backgrounds, emphasizing that the violence was not simply a protest against the Israel-Palestine conflict but rather a criminal offense.
Spiraling Tensions
The attacks followed mounting tension between Israeli fans and locals over several days. Earlier incidents reportedly included Maccabi fans burning a Palestinian flag and clashing with pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Dam Square. Police managed to keep the groups separate during the match, which saw Ajax defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv 5-0, but struggled to contain the post-game violence.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, attending an EU leaders’ summit, expressed dismay at the unfolding events. Speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he vowed that “perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted.” Dutch authorities have since confirmed that taxi drivers were involved in some of the assaults, although Amsterdam’s largest taxi company denied involvement.
Calls for Action and Accountability
As criticism of Amsterdam’s handling of the attacks grows, several leaders and public figures have voiced concerns. Dutch MP Geert Wilders denounced the authorities’ inability to prevent the violence, suggesting it was a failure to protect Israeli citizens and fans from hate-fueled assaults. He echoed Herzog’s sentiments, calling it “a pogrom” against Israelis.
In the wake of these events, Israeli airline El Al organized emergency flights to evacuate affected fans, bypassing previously considered military support from Israel. The evacuation reflects Israel’s heightened alarm over the safety of its citizens abroad, as the Israel-Gaza conflict reverberates beyond the Middle East.
With tensions in Amsterdam now a flashpoint for broader geopolitical hostilities, Mayor Halsema concluded, “This was a wake-up call. The war in the Middle East has threatened the peace in our city, but we must not allow such hatred to take root here.”