Football Fans Attacked in Amsterdam after Europa League Match; Israel Sends 2 Planes To Bring Them Back: Reports
Moneylife Digital Team 09 November 2024
Israel has dispatched two planes to Amsterdam to evacuate supporters of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team after they were targeted in an apparent antisemitic attack following a match against Ajax Amsterdam in Europa League match. 
 
The violent incident unfolded on the streets of Amsterdam, as riot police clashed with pro-Palestinian demonstrators who allegedly attacked Israeli soccer fans, says a report from Hindustan Times.
 
According to a report from Reuters , Amsterdam's Mayor Femke Halsema confirmed that Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters had been "attacked, abused, and pelted with fireworks," forcing the intervention of riot police multiple times to ensure their safety. Police escorted the fans to nearby hotels to shield them from further harm.
 
The violence comes amid rising antisemitic tensions in the Netherlands since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Several Jewish schools and organisations have reported threats and hate mail since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis. 
 
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the Israeli government was in direct communication with the Dutch authorities following the attack. In response to the escalating violence, Israel's military announced it would send two cargo planes, equipped with medical and rescue teams, to bring the Maccabi supporters back home.
 
The clashes reportedly began after the Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, with pro-Palestinian demonstrators attacking Israeli fans in the aftermath. A video captured by an eyewitness showed a group of men chasing and assaulting others near Amsterdam's central station as police sirens blared in the background.
 
Although the fans had left the stadium peacefully after Ajax's 5-0 victory, tensions flared when protests erupted later in the city center. Dutch authorities detained 57 suspects as they attempted to reach the Johan Cruyff Arena, despite a ban on protests there.
 
Israeli media reports suggest the attacks were premeditated, potentially mirroring the violent tactics used by Hamas during the October 7 assault on Israel.
 
The unrest is part of a broader wave of pro-Palestinian protests across Europe in response to the ongoing war in Gaza. The conflict, now in its second month, has caused extensive casualties, with over 43,000 Palestinians reported killed in Israeli military strikes and more than 1 lack injured. In retaliation for the Hamas attack, which also saw over 250 Israelis taken hostage, Israel has launched a sustained offensive on Gaza.
 
As tensions continue to rise, both Israel and the Netherlands are working to address the safety of Israeli citizens abroad and prevent further incidents of hate and violence.
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