Group against war in Gaza confronted Israeli fans in Amsterdam: 62 detained

At least 62 people were arrested and 5 were injured in the early hours of this Friday, November 8, in Amsterdam after several clashes between protesters against the war in Gaza and a group of Israeli soccer fans who came to the Dutch capital for a match. against Ajax, a Police spokesperson informed EFE.

The Dutch Police are collecting “verified information that can be shared” about what happened in the context before, during and after the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC held in Amsterdam, which will be detailed this afternoon at a press conference, the spokesperson added.

For now, the Amsterdam Police confirmed that More than a dozen people were arrested for different crimes, mainly disorderly conduct, before the match beganwhen several hundred Maccabi fans gathered on Amsterdam’s Dam Square. “At first there was a tense atmosphere, but it calmed down over time,” according to the police spokesperson.

On the other hand, a demonstration authorized by the city council against the Israeli war in Gaza was recorded in a city square located one kilometer from the Johan Cruijff Arena stadium.

The protest included a group of people, whose number has not been specified, and Some tried to head towards the stadium, but were held back by riot police, which led some protesters to attack the officers with fireworks. causing “hearing damage” to one of them, authorities said in a brief note.

Finally, About thirty people were arrested for disturbing public order and for carrying or using fireworks. in that demonstration.

The Amsterdam police spokesperson consulted by EFE could not confirm the identity, nationality or affiliation of those arrested. However, several unverified images and videos have been circulating on social media throughout the night, in which Maccabi fans are allegedly chased and attacked by masked men, or Israeli fans tearing down Palestinian flags, but it is not clear where they were taken. these images, and the Dutch police do not confirm their veracity either.

The Israeli Government described the incident as “very violent” and defended that Israeli fans were “ambushed and attacked” in Amsterdam after the Europa League match against Ajax, which ended 5-0 in favor of the Dutch teamand even announced the sending of two “rescue” planes for Maccabi fans.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed his rejection of what happened and said he was “horrified by the anti-Semitic attacks against Israeli citizens,” something he described as “completely unacceptable.”

Schoof, who leads a government where the radical right has a majority, also promised his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Nentayahu, that “Those responsible will be identified and brought to justice”.

After what happened, it was reported from Israel that, “in light of the serious events, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will soon depart for an urgent diplomatic visit to the Netherlands.”

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she was “outraged” by the “vile attacks against Israeli citizens in Amsterdam.” “I strongly condemn these unacceptable acts,” he wrote on X’s social network after speaking with the Dutch prime minister. “Anti-Semitism has no place in Europe. And we are determined to fight all forms of hate“.

“We have seen these very worrying reports,” UN human rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence said at a news conference in Geneva, adding: “No one, absolutely no one, should be subject to discrimination or violence based on their national, religious, ethnic or other origin.. “We understand that authorities have launched an investigation into this incident.”