ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN / AFP
Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters during the Europa League match against Ajax Amsterdam, Thursday November 7.
INTERNATIONAL – Dozens of arrests and an immediate response from the Israeli Prime Minister. Violent clashes broke out on the night of Thursday November 7 to Friday November 8 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, after a match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof denounced on “completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis”, while Benjamin Netanyahu ordered two planes to be sent to rescue Israeli supporters on Friday morning. HuffPost takes stock of what we know.
• What happened
Clashes broke out overnight in the center of Amsterdam, following the football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Europa League and won by the Dutch club (5-0). According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretzaround 3,000 Israeli supporters traveled to attend the match. Around ten of them were injured by people “chanting “Free Palestine” and hurling insults in Arabic.”
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“I am receiving videos and evidence of brutal attacks on Israeli sports tourists in Amsterdam. What I see seems to be putting lives in danger: innocent people being knocked down, beaten, thrown into a river and much more », Described former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on X, relaying several videos. “I call on the Dutch authorities to act immediately to avoid injuries and more serious situations”he added.
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“A large number of vehicles from the mobile unit are present and reinforcements have also been called. Young people also allegedly provoked the police”described local media AT5. Police protected and escorted Israeli supporters to their hotel, according to footage shared by AT5. Amsterdam police, cited by the ANP agency, indicated that they had made 57 arrests in total during the day.
• Benjamin Netanyahu sends relief planes
Benjamin Netanyahu ordered two planes to be sent to Amsterdam on Friday morning to rescue Israeli supporters, while the Israeli army indicated for its part that it was preparing “a rescue mission” including a cargo plane as well as medical teams.
Benjamin Netanyahu considers “the appalling incident with the greatest seriousness”, indicates a press release from his services.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for his part, urged Israeli nationals present in Amsterdam to stay in their hotel rooms after these attacks. “Supporters who came to watch a football match were victims of anti-Semitic acts and attacked with incredible cruelty simply because of their Jewish and Israeli identity”declared the minister.
The new Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, who was sworn in overnight in front of Parliament, spoke with his Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp. According to its services, “He underlined the seriousness with which Israel regards the large-scale violent attacks against its citizens in Amsterdam overnight” and requested that the Dutch authorities ensure the security of supporters for their transfer to the airport.
• A tense context
Amsterdam police said Thursday that they were “particularly vigilant” on his X account, after reporting several incidents, including a Palestinian flag torn from a facade “by strangers”.
In the afternoon, around a hundred Israeli supporters gathered on Dam Square – surrounded by a large police force – before going to the Johan Cruyff stadium, southwest of the Dutch capital.
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.
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