Dutch PM ‘ashamed’ by Amsterdam attacks on Israeli soccer fans

Amsterdam banned demonstrations for 3 days from Friday whereas giving police emergency stop-and-search powers after in a single day assaults on Israeli soccer supporters, because the Israeli authorities mentioned it might fly many followers residence.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema mentioned Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters have been “attacked, abused and pelted with fireworks” by what she described as “antisemitic hit-and-run squads,” and riot police needed to intervene a number of instances to guard them and escort them to motels.

Israel was sending business planes to the Netherlands on Friday to deliver residence Israeli soccer followers after in a single day assaults in Amsterdam that officers described as antisemitic, though there was proof of provocative chanting from Israeli followers.

Movies circulating on social media confirmed riot police intervening in avenue clashes, with some attackers shouting anti-Israeli slurs.

Some footage additionally confirmed Israeli supporters chanting anti-Arab slogans earlier than Thursday night’s match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam.

5 folks have been handled within the hospital and launched, whereas some 20 to 30 folks suffered mild accidents, police mentioned. A minimum of 62 suspects have been arrested, with 10 nonetheless in custody, town’s public prosecutor, René de Beukelaer, instructed reporters at a information convention Friday.

Whereas there have been preliminary reviews of Israeli followers being unaccounted for, by mid-afternoon on Friday, police in Amsterdam mentioned there have been no lacking individuals.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned the order to ship planes was taken after “a really violent incident” focusing on Israeli residents after the match between Maccabi and Ajax Amsterdam, historically recognized as a Jewish membership.

The Israeli airways El Al and Arkia introduced 5 flights to Amsterdam.

An eyewitness captured a video verified by Reuters displaying a bunch of males working close to Amsterdam central station, chasing and assaulting different males, as police sirens sounded.

Nonetheless, one other verified video confirmed Maccabi followers setting off flares and chanting “Ole, ole, let the IDF win,” referring to the Israel Defence Forces, adopted by derogatory language directed at “Arabs.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof mentioned he was “ashamed about what occurred within the Netherlands,” to reporters on the sidelines of a summit of European Union leaders in Budapest. “It has been a dreadful night time.”

Schoof assured Netanyahu by telephone that “the perpetrators will probably be recognized and prosecuted,” he mentioned in a press release on the social media platform X.

No prior menace warning 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, who he mentioned had “expressed deep horror and shock over the felony acts dedicated.”

Politician Geert Wilders, head of the most important social gathering within the Dutch authorities, mentioned he was “ashamed that this may occur within the Netherlands.”

In a vitriolic publish on the social media platform X, he blamed “felony Muslims” and mentioned they need to be deported.

Police mentioned there had been incidents earlier than the match at Johan Cruyff Area, for which roughly 3,000 Maccabi supporters travelled to Amsterdam.

A Palestinian flag was torn down from a constructing in Amsterdam on Wednesday, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported, and authorities banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration close to the stadium. Police chief Peter Holla instructed reporters some Maccabi supporters set a Palestinian flag on hearth on Wednesday within the metropolis’s Dam Sq..

Halsema mentioned Friday the Dutch counterterrorism watchdog mentioned there was no concrete menace to Israeli soccer followers detected earlier than the sport. However afterwards, she mentioned, youths on scooters crisscrossed town searching for Israeli followers, punching and kicking them after which fleeing shortly to evade police.

They mentioned followers had left the stadium with out incident after the Europa League match, which Ajax gained 5-0, however that clashes erupted in a single day within the metropolis centre.

Antisemitic incidents within the Netherlands have surged since Israel launched its assault on Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, assaults on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, with many Jewish organizations and colleges reporting threats and hate mail.

The Gaza conflict has sparked protests in help of either side throughout Europe and america, together with in Amsterdam, the place the opening of a brand new Holocaust museum by Herzog led to violent protests by pro-Palestinian activists.

Greater than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed and 102,000 others injured in Israel’s navy offensive on Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault, based on well being officers within the enclave, after the Palestinian militant group killed some 1,200 Israelis and took greater than 250 hostage, based on Israel.

Hamas spokesperson Abu Zuhri, in a press release, mentioned “the Amsterdam incidents affirm that the continued genocide in Gaza, broadcast dwell with out worldwide motion to halt it and maintain these accountable accountable, can result in such spontaneous reactions.”