What we know about attacks on Israeli football fans

The images are shocking. Filmed at the end of the Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv, they show supporters of the Israeli club attacked, insulted, beaten, in what looks like anti-Semitic acts, perpetrated in response to the massacres perpetrated by the Jewish state in the Gaza Strip.

The Amsterdam police, heavily mobilized for this high-risk meeting, indicated that they had made 57 arrests on the sidelines of the match won 5-0 by Ajax. For the moment, the authorities have not wished to give details of the facts. But all over the world, the affair is causing reactions. Some speak of anti-Semitic acts, others even speak of a pogrom (a massacre targeting Jews). 20 Minutes takes stock of this evening.

What happened Thursday evening

At the end of the Europa League match easily won by Ajax, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were chased through the streets of Amsterdam after leaving the stadium. Some were insulted, others hit or severely beaten. Violence strongly condemned by the Israeli authorities and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Two planes will soon reach the Netherlands to rescue supporters and bring them back to Israel. This violence, images of which have been broadcast on social networks, is currently difficult to quantify. The Dutch authorities mentioned “at least five injured” taken to hospital. Amsterdam police said 62 people were arrested after the violence. Which does not prevent Israeli leaders from criticizing the police, despite being deployed en masse to secure the football match.

In the images broadcast on the networks, we can see supporters thrown to the ground, hit on the ground, receiving blows to the face. People are shouting at the same time that they are paying for the massacres in Gaza. The link with the war between Israel and Hamas is clearly established.

According to several witnesses, Maccabi supporters had shouted several anti-Muslim slogans before the meeting, tearing up Palestinian flags, while their parade was very supervised. They would have chanted in Hebrew “Finish the Arabs!” We’re going to win! » or even “Let the IDF win to finish off the Arabs”. They would also have whistled the minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the deadly floods in Valencia, Spain.

How Israel reacted

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to react and denounce “a premeditated anti-Semitic attack”. The head of government spoke with his Dutch counterpart Dick Schoof and “asked for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands”.

Benjamin Netanyahu very quickly asked to charter two planes to repatriate his citizens. The first plane took off this morning. Netanyahu is not the only one to have reacted. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, for his part, made the link with the bloody attacks of October 7, 2023 perpetrated by Hamas. “We see with horror this morning the shocking images and videos that, since October 7, we had hoped never to see again: an ongoing anti-Semitic pogrom against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in the heart of Amsterdam.”

This Friday, the Jewish state will send its Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar “for an urgent diplomatic visit to the Netherlands”. The latter has already denounced “terrible barbaric and anti-Semitic terrorist attacks” which “are a resounding alarm signal for Europe and the entire world”.

What the political sphere said

Israeli leaders are not the only ones to be outraged by the violence suffered by their supporters. In a context of increasing anti-Semitic attacks in Europe, many political figures have reacted. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen “strongly condemns these unacceptable acts” describing “despicable attacks”.

In France, Emmanuel Macron “firmly condemned” the violence which, according to him, recalls “the most shameful hours in history”. “I send my support to the injured. France will continue to fight relentlessly against odious anti-Semitism,” the French president reacted on X.

These events which occurred during the night led to speeches from all sides throughout France and Europe. Marine Le Pen did not hesitate to criticize the far left and judge it responsible for “this outbreak of anti-Semitic violence”. “Hate of Jews is spreading like wildfire in several European countries, carried by the incendiary rhetoric of the far left,” insisted the boss of the RN. His ally Éric Ciotti denounced “a lynching” which must “cause an electric shock”.

The France Israel match under high pressure

Since these events, voices have been raised to demand the cancellation or postponement of the football match between France and Israel scheduled for Thursday, November 14 at the Stade de France, in Paris. La France insoumise, which demands recognition of a Palestinian state, requested the cancellation of the meeting, considering the context too tense. Traveling to Marseille, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau was quick to react. “Some are calling for the match to be relocated. I do not accept it: France is not backing down because that would amount to abdicating in the face of threats of violence and anti-Semitism,” the minister tweeted. However, specific security means will be deployed.

On Thursday, a diplomatic incident between France and Israel had already occurred on the sidelines of Jean-Noël Barrot’s official visit to Jerusalem. Israeli police entered “armed” and “without authorization” into Eléona, a pilgrimage site managed by France. A situation described as “unacceptable” by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who then refused to set foot there. Two French gendarmes were arrested before being released. France, which “condemns” these “unacceptable actions”, announced that it would summon the Israeli ambassador to Paris.