Israeli and Dutch leaders condemn 'antisemitic' attacks on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Anti-Semitic rioters are “actively seeking out Israeli fans to attack and attack them” after a football match, Amsterdam officials said Friday, as Israel said it would send planes to the Dutch capital to fly fans home.

An unknown number of Israeli supporters were injured in Thursday night’s violence, which both Dutch and Israeli leaders condemned as anti-Semitic.

A statement issued by the Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecutor’s office said the night following the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv was “quite tumultuous due to numerous incidents of violence against Maccabi fans”.

There is no statement yet on the number of people injured or arrested.

The violence broke out on Thursday even as Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the football stadium, fearing clashes between protesters and fans of an Israeli football club.

Israel ordered two planes to be sent to the Dutch capital to bring the Israelis home.

In the statement made by Binyamin Netanyahu’s office, it was said: “The Prime Minister gave instructions to immediately send two rescue planes to help our citizens.”

The statement stated that “the harsh images of the attack on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be ignored” and that Netanyahu “views the terrible incident with the utmost seriousness”. The Dutch government was demanded to take “strong and rapid action” against those involved. .

Netanyahu’s office added that he had called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he followed the news of violence on channel X with “horror”.

“Totally unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis. “I am in close contact with everyone involved,” he added, adding that he had spoken to Netanyahu and emphasizing that “the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted.” “There is silence in the capital now.”

Far-right nationalist MP Geert Wilders, whose Freedom Party won elections in the Netherlands last year and is a staunch ally of Israel, reacted to a video showing a Maccabi fan surrounded by several people.

“It’s like a Jew hunt on the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum who attack Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in our streets. I’m ashamed that this could happen in the Netherlands. It’s completely unacceptable,” said Wilders.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also condemned the violence in a post on the social media platform X.

Ajax won the Europa League match 5-0.

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