Since Thursday evening, the videos filmed in Amsterdam have been playing in a loop on social networks and on certain continuous news channels. Here a body on the ground, apparently unconscious, kicked; there another chased by a group of people dressed in black in the streets of the capital of the Netherlands… Apparently taken to task for the fate that their government is inflicting on the Palestinian people, Israeli supporters were directly targeted on the night of Thursday to Friday following a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, won by the Dutch club (5-0).
Sending two planes
Deployed massively on the occasion of the sporting event, the Amsterdam police, cited by the Dutch agency ANP, indicated that they had made 57 arrests after the incidents that occurred on the sidelines of the meeting, without giving further details. A ” anti-Semitic pogrom in the heart of Amsterdam » Israeli President Isaac Herzog reacted on X, while Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also denounced “ anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis “, calling them ” unacceptable “. Before adding that calm had returned to the capital – he also specified, appearing to report an instruction given by the Israeli Prime Minister, that “ Mr. Netanyahu insisted that the perpetrators of these acts must be sought and prosecuted ».
For his part, the head of the far-right government of Israel, which for more than a year has been waging a war of extermination in Gaza described by the UN special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, as a real “genocide”, said talked about “ premeditated anti-Semitic attack “. The latter said he considered “ the appalling incident with the greatest seriousness ”, while ensuring that “ the difficult images of the aggression against our citizens in Amsterdam will not be ignored “. In addition to asking local authorities “ increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands “, he announced the ” immediate dispatch of two emergency planes » to provide assistance to Israeli supporters.
Of the supporters known to be close to the extreme right
There was no shortage of reactions in France, where the president of Crif, Yonathan Arfi, denounced this Friday morning “ a mass lynching » on the air of the news channel BFM-TV. “ It is the crassest anti-Semitism that resurfaces through these images “, he affirmed, judging that Israeli supporters had been targeted “ not only in the name of the conflict happening in Gaza but also because they are Jewish “. What elements allow him to affirm this? Nothing in his explanation on air supported his statement. One thing is certain, few media are reporting other incidents that took place during the day on Thursday, before the match, and in particular the provocations made by groups of Israeli supporters in the streets of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam police said on Thursday that they were “ particularly vigilant ” on his X account, after reporting several incidents, including a Palestinian flag torn from a facade ” by strangers “. Several videos appear to indicate that these “unknown people” were in reality a group formed by a very specific part of the Israeli club’s supporters. “ When you follow football, Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters are renowned for harboring the largest fringes of far-right, racist and violent hooligans » reported on X the NFP/LFI deputy Raphaël Arnault, renowned for his knowledge of violent ultra-right circles. “ Yesterday in Amsterdam, they (did) not come to pick daffodils » expressed the MP, before adding, with supporting video, that “ these famous “supporters” remained mobilized until late after the match to be able to fight (as they do on almost every trip), against a backdrop of racist provocation ».
« Maccabi Tel Aviv fans beaten after spending days shouting racist chants and praising the Israeli army », declared Assan Lakehoul, general secretary of the MJCF, not without recalling that the violence in and around the stadiums is “ unbearable and unjustifiable “. “Supporters” or “hooligans”? One thing is certain, videos actually show unworthy behavior on the part of supporters of the Tel Aviv club, before, during and after the match, while altercations took place in the afternoon between white-hot supporters and pro-Palestinian activists.
Palestinian flags torn down and racist chants
Aggressive behavior in the street, stoned taxis, racist slogans, Palestinian flags torn down in the streets of the city, minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the Valencia floods not respected in the stadium… For the specialized site Middle East Eye (MEE), no doubt, they are good “ Israeli hooligans (who) provoked clashes with residents of Amsterdam », after having notably chanted anti-Arab songs or calling for ethnic cleansing.
Before the match, fans heading to the Johan Cruyff Arena stadium were filmed chanting “ Let the IDF (Israeli Army) fuck the Arabs ”, or even “ There are no more schools in Gaza because there are no more children » (translations broadcast on X, not verified). Several incidents, therefore, which make the MEE regret that Dick Schoof did not mention “ attacks committed by hooligans against Dutch citizens » in his condemnations of the violence of the day before. In total, five people were hospitalized and 62 arrested, according to a local police spokesperson. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that ten Israelis had been injured and that “ contact with at least two other people had been lost ».
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, who ordered a pro-Palestinian rally removed from the stadium area, added that authorities were still establishing the full extent of the incident. The next day, all eyes are on France which is due to host the France-Israel match at the Stade de France on Thursday November 14. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has already indicated that he is not considering the idea of relocation, wanting to be firm regarding France's capacity to host the Israeli selection next week.
