Israeli football fans endured a string of violent incidents in central Amsterdam, officials reported, as riot police intervened multiple times to protect them from escalating assaults. The violence unfolded against the backdrop of a high-stakes Europa League match between Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch team Ajax, attracting a large contingent of Israeli supporters to the Dutch capital.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed outrage, condemning the incidents as “antisemitic attacks” and vowing to hold perpetrators accountable. In Israel, officials described the situation as “severe and violent,” and the Israeli military highlighted what they called “violent incidents against Israelis.”
Despite significant police presence, Amsterdam’s authorities reported that numerous Israeli fans suffered injuries across various locations in the city. Riot police were deployed to control clashes and protect fans, with the Amsterdam police launching an investigation into what they described as a series of violent attacks. Authorities have reported at least 62 arrests related to the unrest, and at least five individuals were taken to hospitals for medical treatment. Police also noted reports of a “possible hostage situation” and some individuals unaccounted for, although they have yet to confirm this information.
Prime Minister Schoof, visibly troubled by the incidents, expressed solidarity with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and assured him that Dutch law enforcement would pursue those responsible for the violence. The National Coordinator for Antisemitism in the Netherlands also weighed in, condemning the violent actions as “disgusting” and stating that the readiness to commit such attacks was a stark violation of societal norms.
Ahead of the match, tensions had already begun to build as Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in Amsterdam’s Dam Square. Reports indicated that some Israeli fans set off fireworks, while others allegedly tore down a Palestinian flag from a nearby building. One video, although unverified, showed fans on an escalator chanting anti-Arab slogans, further intensifying tensions between the groups. After the game, the violence grew, as several videos surfaced on social media showing disturbing scenes: in one, a man was seen kicked and beaten while on the ground; in another, a person appeared to be run over. Some videos captured individuals shouting pro-Palestinian slogans, although the authenticity of these videos has not been independently verified.
In Israel, President Isaac Herzog expressed horror over what he described as a “pogrom” against Israeli fans and citizens in Amsterdam. His comments were echoed by Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who also referred to the attacks as a “pogrom” and called on authorities to answer for what he described as a failure to protect Israeli visitors.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema had initially attempted to prevent potential violence by moving pro-Palestinian demonstrators away from the Johan Cruyff Arena, where the match was held. However, Dutch media reported that a sizable group of protesters attempted to reach the stadium, prompting police intervention to prevent further escalation. President Herzog expressed his confidence in Dutch authorities, urging them to take immediate action to “protect, locate, and secure all Israelis and Jews under threat.”
The Israeli foreign ministry has since advised Israeli nationals in Amsterdam to remain within their hotels, and public broadcaster Kan reported that contact with at least three Israeli citizens had been lost amid the chaotic scenes. The United States’ special envoy on antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, described the incidents as “horrific” and warned that the attacks in Amsterdam evoked “terribly reminiscent images of a classic pogrom,” particularly unsettling as they occurred days before the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the notorious 1938 anti-Jewish pogrom in Nazi Germany.
With public outcry growing, the Dutch government’s coordinator against antisemitism called the violent images “shameful” and said they would cast a long shadow over the upcoming Kristallnacht commemoration.
Leave a Reply