A Dutch court has sentenced five men to up to six months in prison for violence that erupted around a soccer match between Ajax and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in November.
The Amsterdam District Court on Tuesday sentenced one man to six months in prison, another to two and a half months and two others to one month in prison. A fifth defendant was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
The incidents around the UEFA Europa League match, which sparked international outcry and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks, led to the hospitalization of five people and minor injuries to 20 others. More than 60 people were arrested.
“It appears that the violence was the result of strong pro-Palestinian sentiments and dissatisfaction with the situation in Gaza, as well as related anger against the Israelis present,” the prosecutor's office said after the end of the hearings two weeks ago.
The five defendants, all Dutch residents and aged between 19 and 32, were accused of public violence, theft and assault.
The November 7 match was allowed to go ahead after the Dutch counterterrorism watchdog ruled there was no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans and the match was not considered a high-risk match. Despite this, Amsterdam authorities banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Johan Cruyff Arena.
According to an investigation, the day before the match, authorities reported several incidents, including Israeli fans tearing a Palestinian flag from an Amsterdam building and attacking a taxi.
Six other suspects, including three minors, will be tried at a later date. According to Dutch rules, proceedings concerning minors take place behind closed doors.
Police continue to investigate the incidents since early November and have released images of several suspects they wish to identify.
