No less than 62 people were arrested by Dutch police forces and five were hospitalized on November 7 in Amsterdam after riots on the sidelines of the football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local club, Ajax. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced “a premeditated anti-Semitic attack”.
It was supposed to be a classic football match, a simple encounter between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League. And if the event found a calmer finality with the victory of the Dutch club by five goals to zero, the whole day of Thursday, November 7 was punctuated by moments of tension which led to the final episode of violence : targeted attacks against Israeli supporters who were leaving the Johan Cruyff stadium, located southwest of the Dutch capital.
It all started early yesterday afternoon. According to the daily Haaretznearly 3,000 supporters of the Tel Aviv club traveled to Amsterdam to attend the match. About a hundred of them gather on the central Dam Square, opposite the Royal Palace. A large police force was deployed to prevent any excess but quickly hateful remarks against the Arab populations and insults about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip began to be heard. Palestinian flags were also torn down from windows in the streets of Amsterdam. According to the Amsterdam police, around ten people were then arrested for “various criminal offenses and in particular for disturbing public order”.
READ ALSO: Anti-Zionism, Palestinian cause… These questions which still disturb, 1 year after October 7
At the same time, a demonstration to protest against the arrival of the Israeli club was also supervised by the Dutch police. Faced with an increasingly tense situation, the Amsterdam town hall decided to move the pro-Palestinian rally from around the stadium to a neighboring district. Despite this, clashes broke out near the Arena, fireworks were fired at the riot police and around thirty people were, once again, arrested for disturbing public order. The police have not yet been able to give the identity of those who launched these fireworks.
Then the match begins with a minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the floods in Spain. A group of Israeli supporters refuse to respect her and instead decide to make themselves known by booing, singing and using pyrotechnic devices. The match then took place calmly and the situation got out of control at the end of the match. According to videos posted on social networks, several Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were then violently attacked until late in the evening. The police counted 62 arrests and five hospitalizations and were forced, to allow a return to calm, to escort certain Israeli supporters to their hotel. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, instantly informed via social networks, denounces “ a premeditated anti-Semitic attack » and “ shocking images ” Who ” will not remain unanswered ».
READ ALSO: “Anti-Semitism even in primary school”: the flight of Jewish students to private schools is accelerating
For his part, Israeli President Isaac Herzog describes the incident as “ anti-Semitic pogrom “. The situation is spiraling out of control as Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema expresses her “ shame ”, even speaks of “ crimes » and announces a temporary ban on demonstrations. On the morning of Friday, November 8, the entire international community was outraged. From the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who speaks of “ vile attacks » to French President Emmanuel Macron who condemns violence reminiscent of “ the darkest hours of history ”, passing by the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof who said to himself “ horrified “. The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has indeed made its way into sport, a discipline which nevertheless aims to be peaceful.
READ ALSO: Nadia Geerts: “Cowardice, hypocrisies, excesses… In Belgium, anti-Semitism is becoming commonplace at full speed”
Then, events followed one another: two planes were dispatched to the Netherlands by Israel to help repatriate nationals of the Jewish state and a “ rescue mission » involving a cargo plane and medical teams is being prepared. While awaiting their arrival, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters are ordered to stay in their hotel rooms and then should be transported by the police to Schiphol airport. The new Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, is due to travel to the Netherlands in the coming days to “ an urgent diplomatic visit ».
