Serious riots in Amsterdam, Israel sends rescue plane

Israel’s UN ambassador spoke of a “pogrom” against Jews. The government sent planes to fly the fans out.

After reports of injured Israeli football fans in serious riots in Amsterdam, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent two rescue planes to the Netherlands, according to his office. Netanyahu “views the terrible incident with the utmost seriousness,” the Prime Minister’s office said. He called on “the Dutch government and the security forces to act vigorously and quickly against the rioters and to ensure the safety of our citizens.” Netanyahu’s office did not provide any information on how the “very violent incident against Israeli citizens” came about.

Violent riots occurred around the football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Tel Aviv in the Europa League.

According to the police, there were riots in several places in the center of the capital – although it was not specified which side the violence came from. A total of 57 people were provisionally arrested on Thursday evening.

Several Israeli politicians spoke of shocking scenes of violence in which pro-Palestinian perpetrators literally hunted down Jews – and referred to videos on social media. The recordings could not initially be verified, however, and the Dutch police were much more cautious in their description.

According to their account, fans of the Israeli club clashed with pro-Palestinian youths after the match. The Israeli newspaper “Maariw” reports that there was even an attempted kidnapping. Dutch police officers are said to have finally shielded the Israelis and then accompanied them to their hotels. Reporters from the Amsterdam TV station AT5 reported that pro-Palestinian demonstrators threw chairs at Maccabi fans as they returned from the stadium to the center.

“As a European, I am ashamed”

“There will be a pogrom in Europe in 2024,” commented Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon on X. The radical right-wing populist Geert Wilders also spoke of a hunt for Jews on X. “A pogrom in the streets of Amsterdam. (…) Muslims with Palestinian flags hunt Jews.”

“Persecuting and beating Israeli football fans is not an anti-war protest. This is criminal and intolerable, and we all have to stand up against it,” said Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, in English on X.

“As a European, I am ashamed to see such scenes in one of our big cities.” According to the police, a suspected anti-Semitic attack on a fan of a Jewish-Israeli club took place in a bar in Berlin on Sunday. The police’s state security department is investigating.

In view of the violent scenes in Amsterdam, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote to X: “Following the serious incidents, we are in contact with the authorities in the Netherlands. Any Israeli or Jew who is currently in distress or has information about the violent acts should contact the situation center.”

Even before the game, there were clashes between Israeli fans and security forces in the city center.

According to police, around ten people were arrested for disturbing public order and illegally possessing fireworks. There were also clashes near the stadium in the southeast of the city before kick-off.

According to the police, around 200 demonstrators tried to get to the venue. The city administration had previously banned a demonstration directly in front of the Johan Cruijff Arena and designated another location nearby for the rally. Security measures had been significantly tightened before the game.

Netanyahu has Israeli football fans flown out

Serious riots broke out in Amsterdam after an away game of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Israeli fans were attacked, there were several injured and, according to Israeli sources, missing people. Prime Minister Netanyahu has fans flown out.

Following the football match between Dutch first division club Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League and Maccabi Tel Aviv, violent clashes broke out in Amsterdam between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli fans.

According to police, there were riots in several places in the center of the Dutch capital after the game – although it was not specified which side the violence came from. According to information from the Amsterdam TV station AT5, demonstrators threw chairs at Maccabi fans. The police’s mobile forces shielded the Israelis and accompanied them to their hotels.

Injured and missing people

According to Israeli sources, three Israelis are missing. In addition, ten people were injured in the riots, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said. It is unclear whether there were any serious injuries. The police in Amsterdam say five people were injured.

The authorities in Amsterdam also spoke of injuries – the number of injured is still being investigated. “Fans were besieged, mistreated and pelted with fireworks in several places in the city,” said Mayor Femke Halsema. She condemned this “anti-Semitic behavior.” The city and the judiciary are investigating the incidents. The authorities are calling on all victims to report to the police and file a complaint.

Demonstration at the stadium banned

According to the police, a total of 57 people were provisionally arrested. The police have not yet said whether there were any football fans among them. Ajax won the game 5-0.

According to police, around 200 demonstrators had already tried to get to the Johan Cruijff Arena before the game. The city administration had banned a demonstration directly in front of the stadium and designated another location nearby for the rally. According to the police, the mobile emergency services kept the demonstrators away from the stadium.

Netanyahu sends rescue teams

According to his office, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending rescue planes to the Netherlands for injured fans. Netanyahu “views the terrible incident with the utmost seriousness,” the Prime Minister’s office said. He called on “the Dutch government and the security forces to act vigorously and quickly against the rioters and to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

The Israeli airline El Al announced that a first rescue flight from Amsterdam to Israel would take off at 2 p.m. local time. Two more regular flights to Tel Aviv were also planned afterwards. Hundreds of Israeli fans are to be brought home this way.

Israelis can travel to the airport by public transport, where flights to Israel will be provided, according to the Foreign Ministry. Local security forces are on duty. The Foreign Ministry also advised against wearing any Jewish or Israeli symbols. The authority had initially advised people not to leave their hotels.

Israel’s President shocked

Israel’s President Izchak Herzog has expressed his horror at the violence in Amsterdam after a football match. “This morning we see with horror the shocking images and videos that we have hoped never to see again since October 7: an anti-Semitic pogrom against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in the heart of Amsterdam,” Herzog wrote on the X platform. Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also condemned the riots as anti-Semitism.

Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, wrote on X: “A terrible pogrom against Jews and Israelis in Amsterdam. Large numbers of people on European soil are being violently attacked by Muslim and Palestinian rioters, simply because they are Jews.”

Sharp criticism of violence against Israeli fans

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof called the violence against Israeli citizens unacceptable. “I have followed the news from Amsterdam with disgust,” Schoof also wrote on X, adding that all perpetrators must be prosecuted.

“Chasing and beating Israeli football fans is not an anti-war protest. This is criminal and intolerable, and we all have to stand up against it,” Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, said in English on X. “As a European, I am ashamed to see such scenes in one of our major cities.”

Cargo planes with rescue teams

The rescue mission for injured Israeli fans will be carried out with cargo planes and will include medical rescue teams, according to the Israeli military.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar asked the Dutch government to help Israeli citizens get to the airport safely.