Violent attacks on Israeli fans in Amsterdam: Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters suffered heavy attacks in several locations around the city centre. The events were so grave that riot police were called to protect the fans and there are sounds of outrage from officials who describe what they witnessed as “antisemitic attacks”.
Details of the Riots: The violence erupted after a Europa League tie between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, during which Israeli hooligans invade Amsterdam. Prime Minister Dick Schoof strongly condemned the violence terming it “antisemitic attacks”. The mayor of Amsterdam agreed to this where it is narrated that, with such a high concentration of policemen in the city, a few Israeli hooligans were injured.
Five fans were hospitalized, and police are investigating other incidents, including a report of a hostage situation. Dutch authorities and leaders in the country’s Jewish community responded with an emotional reaction to the incidents. The CJO said taxi drivers in the region provoked violence, “blocking” and “ambushing” fans. Social media carried videos displaying disturbing scenes of beatings and even attempts to run over Israeli citizens.
Official Response: Prime Minister Schoof called the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to assure that Dutch law enforcement will do all in its powers to track down the perpetrators. The Israeli President, Isaac Herzog also joined in to condemn the acts of violence, describing it as a “pogrom” — a term that anti-Islam Dutch politician Geert Wilders also used in his attribution of the blame to the government for not stopping the attacks.
Herzog hoped that the Dutch authorities would act swiftly to ensure the security of the Israel citizens. The US special envoy on antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, expressed her concern parallel to the incidents, which she described as a reproduction of the violence pre-WWII times. She expressed horror that such incidents occurred on the eve of the anniversary of some infamous pogroms conducted on Jews in Germany in 1938.
Police Actions: Local Amsterdam’s Mayor Femke Halsema had attempted to avert the clashes by evacuating the pro-Palestinian protesters from the stadium. Violence, however, erupted in several parts of the city after the match. The Dutch police claimed they could not identify all the perpetrators as many were wearing dark-coloured clothes. Several people have been arrested while others are still under police investigation.
Immediately, Israeli airline El Al arranged “rescue flights” to bring Israeli citizens home, reacting swiftly as Netanyahu called off plans for his earlier decision to deploy military planes for evacuation.
Israeli officials urged residents of Amsterdam to remain indoors for security reasons, citing active investigations into the case of Israelis missing and reported missing. The Dutch and Israeli governments are collaborating to identify the whereabouts of every Israeli citizen living in the area.
This sort of attack is but a grim reminder of the growing tensions about the conflicts that are going on all over the world, and officials and the public are labeling each other incompetent while crying for increased security.