Anti-Semitic violence in Amsterdam: “Horror”, “shame”, “undignified”… Europe in shock

Will stadium enclosures in Europe become the trigger for clashes linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? After the criticism and threats received by Israeli athletes during the Paris Olympics this summer, after the giant tifo on which was written the words “Free Palestine”, deployed on Wednesday by the main group of Paris Saint-Germain supporters during a Champions League match against Atlético de Madrid, a milestone was obviously reached on Thursday evening in Amsterdam, after a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

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Indeed, Israeli supporters have been the target of anti-Semitic violence which has sparked a wave of indignation across Europe and consternation in Israel. “We see with horror this morning the shocking images and videos that we had hoped never to see again since October 7: an anti-Semitic pogrom currently taking place against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in the heart of Amsterdam.” , said Israeli President Isaac Herzog yesterday, reacting to this violence which left five people injured.

Israeli songs at the start…

The course of events which led to such anti-Semitic acts remains to be clarified and the chronology to be established. From Wednesday, incidents took place between a group of taxi drivers and a group of foreigners. Thursday afternoon, around a hundred Israeli supporters gathered on Dam Square, surrounded by a large police force, before going to the Johan Cruyff stadium, in the southwest of Amsterdam. A pro-Palestinian rally condemning the arrival of the Israeli club was initially planned near the stadium, but was moved a little further into the neighborhood by Amsterdam town hall for security reasons.

Images circulating yesterday on social networks and presented as filmed in Amsterdam – but whose origin AFP had not yet been able to verify – show what appears to be dozens of fans of the Israeli club chanting in Hebrew “Finish the Arabs We're going to win!” or even “Let the IDF win to finish off the Arabs.”

…then an outburst of violence after the match

It was after the match, which ended in a 5-0 defeat for the Israeli team against Ajax, that things degenerated: supporters of the Maccabi Tel Aviv club were attacked in the streets of Amsterdam. In images posted on social media, several men, often covered with hoods or caps, can be seen running and chasing Israeli supporters and hitting them.

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According to Israeli media, some attackers spoke in Arabic and carried Palestinian flags, shouting “Liberate Palestine!” “The police had to intervene on several occasions, protect the Israeli supporters and escort them to their hotels. Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli fans were injured,” explained the Dutch authorities. The attackers are said to have coordinated on Telegram.

Netanyahu mobilizes Mossad

This outbreak of violence led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who denounced a “premeditated anti-Semitic attack”, to urgently dispatch two relief planes to assist his fellow citizens and repatriate them to Israel. The Prime Minister also ordered Mossad an action plan to avoid violence during sporting events while the Israeli army banned all its personnel from traveling to the Netherlands.

After this night of unprecedented violence, reactions multiplied, first in Amsterdam, the city of Anne Frank… “I am ashamed” of what happened in the city, declared the mayor, Femke Halsema , announcing a temporary ban on demonstrations. Of the 62 people arrested, ten – including two minors – were still in detention yesterday, according to the Dutch Attorney General, René de Beukelaer, who specified that they will “soon be judged in an accelerated trial”. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the night's “anti-Semitic attacks” as “unacceptable”.

International outrage

But the scale of the violence has sparked reactions all over the world. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was “outraged” by these “vile attacks”: “Anti-Semitism has absolutely no place in Europe. And we are determined to fight all forms of hatred,” she said. “Jews must be safe in Europe,” urged German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, deploring “violence against Jews” which “crosses all borders.”

“No one should be subjected to discrimination or violence on the basis of their national, religious, ethnic or other origin,” responded Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“The violence against Israeli citizens in Amsterdam recalls the most shameful hours in history. I strongly condemn them and I extend my support to the injured. France will continue to fight against odious anti-Semitism without respite,” Emmanuel insisted Macron while France is due to host a France-Israel football match on November 14 at the Stade de France.