Israeli soccer fans targeted in attack in Amsterdam: Officials

On By Littum

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been briefed on the details of a “violent incident” targeting Israelis in Amsterdam, his office said.

CAIRO – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered two rescue planes to be sent immediately to Amsterdam after “a very violent incident” targeting Israeli citizens, his office said Friday, after reports of attacks related to a soccer match.

Israel’s National Security Ministry has also urged its citizens in the Dutch city to stay in their hotel rooms after the attacks, the prime minister’s office said in another statement.

“Fans who went to watch a soccer match encountered anti-Semitism and were attacked with unimaginable cruelty just because of their Jewishness and Israeliness,” Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a post on X.

Authorities in Amsterdam said 57 people had been detained after the match as pro-Palestine protesters had tried to reach the Johan Cruyff Stadium, even though the city had banned them from protesting there. Police said fans had left the stadium without incident, but various clashes were reported in the city centre.

The Israeli military said on Friday it is preparing to immediately deploy a rescue mission with the coordination of the Dutch government after the Europa League match in which Ajax Amsterdam defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 5-0.

“The mission will be deployed using cargo planes and include medical and rescue teams,” the IDF said.

Video on social media showed crowds running through the streets and a man being beaten.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has asked the Dutch government to help Israeli citizens get to the airport safely, Saar told his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp in a phone call on Friday. The Dutch Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on the statements by the Israeli government.

Tensions have been high in the Middle East and abroad since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israel.

At least 43,469 Palestinians have been killed and 102,561 others wounded in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack, according to health officials in the enclave. The Gaza war has sparked protests in support of both sides across Europe and the US, and Arabs and Jews have been attacked.

Anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders, the leader of the largest party in the Dutch government, condemned the reported Amsterdam attacks in a post on X.

“Shame that this can happen in the Netherlands. Totally unacceptable,” he said.

Reporting by Enas Alashray, Ahmed Elimam, Emily Rose and Bart Meijer

(This story was updated to add new information.)