Israel sends plane to Amsterdam after violence against Israeli soccer fans

Israel sent two planes to bring back fans of an Israeli soccer team from the Netherlands on Friday after overnight attacks in the streets that officials described as anti-Semitic.

Videos circulating on social media showed riot police intervening in street clashes, with some attackers shouting anti-Israel slurs.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were “attacked, abused and thrown fireworks” and that riot police had to intervene several times to protect them and escort them to hotels.

Anti-Semitic incidents in the Netherlands have increased sharply since Israel launched its attack on Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by the Palestinian Hamas group, with many Jewish organizations and schools reporting threats and hate mail.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the order to send planes was taken after “a very violent incident” targeting Israeli citizens after the match between Maccabi and Ajax Amsterdam, traditionally identified as a Jewish club.