Israeli soccer fans clash with protesters in Amsterdam | Israel-Palestine conflict news

Israeli soccer fans have clashed with what appear to be pro-Palestinian protesters before and after a Europa League soccer match between their team Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam.

The clashes took place outside the Johan Cruyff Arena on Thursday night, the city’s main arena and Ajax Amsterdam’s home stadium, as well as in other areas. Ajax won the match 5-0 after leading 3-0 at half-time.

Reporting from Amsterdam, Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen said the clashes were the result of a build-up of tension over a few days.

“Hundreds of supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv came to Amsterdam, held a very vocal demonstration in the main square before the incident, waving Israeli flags and also taking down a Palestinian flag,” she said.

On Thursday, police had said on social media that they were paying special attention in the wake of politically charged incidents, including the tearing down of a Palestinian flag from a building.

Videos on social media captured the reported incident, showing Israeli fans shouting slogans as one person was about to take down the flag.

The Israeli fans instigated the violence after arriving in the city and attacking Palestinian supporters before the match, an Amsterdam city councilor said.

“They started attacking houses of people in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags, so that’s actually where the violence started,” council member Jazie Veldhuyzen told Al Jazeera on Friday.

“As a reaction, Amsterdammers mobilized themselves and countered the attacks that started on Wednesday by Maccabi hooligans.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said 10 Israelis were wounded and two were “missing” after the clashes, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said planes would be sent to bring back Israeli citizens. His office did not clarify what led to what it called a “very violent incident against Israeli citizens”.

But Netanyahu said in a Friday statement issued by his office that he “views the horrific incident with the utmost seriousness and demands that the Dutch government and security forces take strong and swift action against the rioters and ensure the safety of our citizens”.

Israeli political commentator Ori Goldberg said the incident showed that the Israeli narrative had taken over Europe.

“The fact that Israeli fans are rioting in the middle of Amsterdam, singing racist songs and climbing the walls of houses to tear down Palestinian flags … is part of the Israeli condition at the moment: A complete detachment between actions and consequences,” said he to Al. Jazeera.

On Friday, Al Jazeera’s Vaessen said the capital was now calm.

Arrests and injuries

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema had banned a pro-Palestinian rally due to concerns about tensions between protesters and supporters of the Israeli soccer club.

About 600 police were deployed after riots started between pro-Palestinian supporters and Maccabi fans, Al Jazeera’s Vaessen reported, adding that a number of people were injured. The police announced on Friday that 62 people were arrested.

Pro-Palestinian protesters had tried to reach the stadium, Vaessen said. Police said the fans left the stadium without incident, but several clashes were reported in the city center overnight.

According to Veldhuyzen, the council member: “The mayor says the police acted, but I would say they didn’t act at the right times.”

He told Al Jazeera: “They only acted to protect the Maccabi hooligans when Amsterdammers rose up to defend their own people and defend their own houses. And that’s when the police showed up to protect the Maccabi fans when they stabbed off after attacking people.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he followed news of the riots with “horror” and added that “the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted.”

In a post Friday on the social media platform X, Schoof said: “Completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis. I am in close contact with everyone involved.”

Flight sent

The Israeli military said on Friday it is deploying a rescue mission with the coordination of the Dutch government, including medical and rescue teams.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also spoke to his Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp, ​​and requested the Dutch government’s assistance in ensuring the departure of fans from hotels to the airport in Amsterdam.

Saar “underscored the seriousness with which Israel views the widespread violent attacks against its citizens throughout Amsterdam,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

But Goldberg, the Israeli political commentator, said Israel’s response to the clashes reflected a “complete rejection of the idea that actions have consequences” given the actions of the Israeli fans in Amsterdam.

“Netanyahu is sending not only cargo planes but also military cargo planes to rescue Israelis from prosecution in Amsterdam,” he told Al Jazeera.

The Israeli club was founded in 1906 in Jaffa, now part of Tel Aviv. It is languishing at the bottom of the Europa League table this season, in position 35 out of 36.

Its next game in the Europa League on November 28 will be against Istanbul-based Turkish side Besiktas. However, following a decision by the Turkish authorities, the match will be played at a “neutral venue”.

European football’s governing body UEFA on Friday condemned the “acts of violence” before and after the match.

“We trust that the relevant authorities will identify and charge as many of those responsible for such acts as possible,” it said in a statement.