Netherlands denounces “anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis” after match

The Netherlands denounced on Friday morning the “unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis” in Amsterdam, during clashes after a Europa League match Thursday evening between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, with Israel citing “appalling” violence and sending planes to assist them.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the “anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis” in Amsterdam as “unacceptable” in a message posted on his X account.

“I am in close contact with all those concerned” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “insisted on the fact that the perpetrators of these acts must be sought and prosecuted,” said Mr. Schoof, adding that calm had returned. in the Dutch capital.

Deployed massively on Thursday during the match, the Amsterdam police, cited by the Dutch agency ANP, indicated that they had made 57 arrests after several incidents on the sidelines of the match, without giving further details.

The Israeli authorities reacted very strongly, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying they considered “the appalling incident with the greatest seriousness” and “demanded that the Dutch authorities act vigorously and quickly against the rioters.”

“The difficult images of the aggression against our citizens in Amsterdam will not be ignored,” he assured.

He announced “the immediate dispatch of two relief planes” to assist Israeli supporters, while the Israeli army indicated for its part that it was preparing “a relief mission” including a cargo plane as well as medical teams.

“We see with horror this morning the shocking images and videos that we hoped would never be seen again since October 7: an anti-Semitic pogrom currently taking place against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in the heart of Amsterdam.” , Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement.

Contacted by AFP, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that “Minister (Caspar) Veldkamp was in urgent contact with his Israeli counterpart following the violent incidents”, which took place overnight in the center of Amsterdam, following the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv and won by the Dutch club (5-0).

A ministry spokeswoman confirmed that the two countries had discussed Israel’s request to send two planes “to pick up Israeli civilians.”

“Minister Veldkamp is in active contact with his colleagues and the Dutch agencies involved in this issue and is facilitating things wherever possible,” she added.

“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 broadcast by AT5.

The Amsterdam police said on Thursday that they were “particularly vigilant” on its X account, after reporting several incidents, including a Palestinian flag torn from a facade “by unknown persons”.

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, in the 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.

These incidents come at a time when Israel is at war on two fronts, against Hamas in Gaza with the aim of destroying the Palestinian Islamist movement after its bloody attack on October 7, 2023 on Israeli territory, and against pro-Iranian Hezbollah in Lebanon after more than a year of cross-border firefights with the Lebanese Islamist movement which supports Hamas.

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 his services, “he underlined the seriousness with which Israel regards the large-scale violent attacks against its citizens in Amsterdam during the night” and requested that the Dutch authorities ensure the security of the supporters for their transfer to the airport.