Amsterdam banned demonstrations for three days from Friday and gave emergency stop and search powers to police after an overnight attack on Israeli soccer supporters by what the mayor called “antisemitic hit-and-run squads”, and Israel said it would drive many fans home.
Youths on scooters attacked Israeli fans in a hit-and-run attack, apparently fueled by anti-Jewish calls circulating on social media, Dutch officials said. Mayor Femke Halsema said Maccabi fans were “attacked, abused and hit with fireworks” around the city, and that riot police had intervened to protect them and escort them to hotels. At least five people are being treated in the hospital.
Videos on social media showed riot police cracking down, with some attackers chanting anti-Israeli slogans. Some footage also showed Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters chanting anti-Arab slogans before Thursday evening’s game. “We saw a lot of demonstrations, a lot of people running. It was really, really scary,” said Johnny Pogrebetsi, an Israeli soccer fan in Amsterdam.
Tensions were rising
Tensions rose in the Dutch capital over Israel’s campaign in Gaza and Lebanon, ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Amsterdam authorities banned a planned pro-Palestinian demonstration near the stadium, and video showed a large crowd of Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans en route to the game. Then, youths on scooters drove through the city in search of Israeli fans, punched and kicked them and then quickly fled to evade police, Halsema said. In Telegram groups, she added, “There’s talk of people going on the hunt for Jews. It’s so shocking and so disgusting that I still can’t understand it.” Police had to turn some fans back to hotels, officials said.
Ofek Ziv, a Maccabi fan from the Israeli city of Petah Tikva, said that – he did not see who – a stone was thrown at him as he and a friend left the stadium. He was bleeding slightly due to the injury on his head. He said a group of Arab men chased him, before he and his friend got into a taxi, picking up other fans. They took refuge in a hotel. “I am very scared… many friends were injured, wounded, kidnapped, robbed, and the police did not come to help us,” he said.
Five people have been treated at the hospital and discharged, while 20 to 30 people have sustained minor injuries, police said. At least 62 suspects were arrested, with 10 still in custody, the city’s public prosecutor, René de Beukeler, told reporters at a news conference on Friday.
Israel flies civilians back
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office earlier said Israel had sent planes to the Netherlands to bring fans home. A plane carrying Israeli soccer supporters landed at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Friday, the Israel Airports Authority said.
Mossad prepares plan to prevent unrest at events
Netanyahu said on Friday that he had ordered the Mossad spy agency to devise a plan to prevent unrest in events abroad. “I have instructed the head of the Mossad (David Bernia) and other officials to prepare our course of action, our alert system and our organization for the new situation,” Netanyahu said in a video statement during a meeting to oversee the removal of the Israelis. From Amsterdam.
(TagsToTranslate)Violence Against Israeli Supporters