Riots between Maccabi fans and Palestine supporters
Five people were injured and 62 were arrested after the incidents in Amsterdam, Netherlands Fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi and pro-Palestinian protesters from Tel AvivAfter the Europa League match against Dutch Ajax.
Dutch police have given this information in their X account, where they have also claimed that has launched an “intense” investigation To clarify the facts. The police also assure that they are “aware of reports about possible hostage-taking and missing people”, but, they clarify, “at the moment they have no confirmation that this actually happened.” “This aspect is also being investigated. Many missing people have already been found,” he said.
Of those detained, A dozen people are in police custodyAccording to Amsterdam’s chief prosecutor, René de Beuckelaer, the men, including two minors, are accused of, among other things, public violence, although the identities of those arrested have not been made public. In addition, Dutch authorities have imposed security measures on places associated with Jews, issuing an emergency order for Amstelveen and Amsterdam, which have been declared “risk areas”, and banning demonstrations this weekend. Has been installed.
Several hundred fans of Tel Aviv’s Maccabi team gathered at Dam Square in the city center on Thursday afternoon, where they also There were many pro-Palestine protesters there, which led to clashesAccording to the information released in Holland. On Wednesday, Amsterdam Mayor Famke Halsema banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration from taking place next to the Johan Cruijff Stadium due to the risk of trouble.
Amsterdam called it an “explosion of violence”
Police indicated that fans had left the stadium without incident after the match, which ended 5–0 in favor of the Netherlands team, and that Clashes continued in the center throughout the night Of the city. However, it is still not clear who was responsible for the riots.
According to the Qatari channel Al Jazeera, banned in Israel, tensions have increased in recent days and assure that Maccabi fans held a “very noisy rally” at an intersection before the match, where “they waved Israeli flags and a Palestinian flag thrown”. Likewise, it also includes statements by Councilor Jazzy Veldhuizen, in which he assures that “the RogueA few days earlier “they had attacked people’s houses with Palestinian flags”.
For Amsterdam authorities, the events are an “explosion of violence against Israeli fans” and they accused the “rioters” of maintaining “anti-Semitic behavior” and “actively” seeking to “attack and assault” Israeli civilians. is charged. In one statement, the ‘Amsterdam triangle’ is made up of – LIn the mayor’s office, the police and the prosecutor’s office– reported that the night was “very busy, with several incidents of violence against Maccabi fans in various places in the city”, and assured that riot police “had to intervene several times, protecting Israeli fans and escorting them to hotels. Had to take it.”
In particular, at a press conference, the Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsemadescribed the events as “a crime” that is “unbearable and incomprehensible” and assured that the attacks on Israeli fans in the Dutch capital “bring back memories of the Holocaust”, an organized lynching against Jews. “Children inside Scooter They scoured the city looking for Israeli fans: it was a hit and run. “I understand very well that this brings back memories of the genocide,” Halsema said.
Dutch Prime Minister, dick shoofFor his part, he said he was “horrified by anti-Semitic attacks against Israeli civilians.” “This is completely unacceptable,” he wrote in X. He also noted that, in a phone call, he assured Netanyahu “that the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted.”
Israeli government sends “rescue” plane to the Netherlands
From Jerusalem, an official statement indicated that the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes “terrible incident” with “extreme seriousness” and demands that the Dutch government and security forces take strong and prompt action against the rioters and guarantee the safety of our citizens.” Similarly, the Israeli executive has indicated that it has worked with Dutch authorities to provide security to fans. The route from their hotel to Amsterdam airport is maintained. Where they sent two “rescue” planes,
President of Israel, Isaac Herzog has described the events as an “anti-Jewish pogrom”.Herzog compared the incident to attacks by Hamas militants last year, saying, “We are seeing shocking images this morning that since October 7 we hoped we would never see again,” which killed 1,200 people in Israel. and another 251 people were killed.” Was kidnapped.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said that they are ten people injured And he will travel to Amsterdam immediately. Additionally, the Israeli military has barred Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel from traveling to the Netherlands until further notice.
UEFA studies actions and EU says “anti-Semitism has no place in Europe”
UEFA has strongly condemned the violent incidents in Amsterdam and has indicated that will evaluate possible actions under its rulesOnce you check all the official reports. “We are confident that the competent authorities will, to the extent possible, identify and charge all those responsible for such actions,” the agency said.
As for the European Union, it has “strongly” condemned the “vile attacks against Israeli civilians” in the Dutch city. “Anti-Semitism has no place in Europe and we are determined to fight against all forms of hatred,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a message on social networks.