A NUMBER of Israeli football fans were injured after a Europa League match in Amsterdam as emergency planes have been sent to fly supporters home.
An unknown number of fans were injured in the violence on Thursday night that was condemned by both the leaders of the Netherlands and Israel as antisemitic.
Just before the match kicked off, footage shared on social media showed Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters refusing to take part in a minute of silence for Valencia flood victims.
It comes after Spain cancelled a contract to buy ammunition from an Israeli firm for the country’s militarised police.
The contract had been awarded on October 21 by Madrid to Guardian Homeland Security SA for more than 15 million bullets.
Football journalist Leyla Hamed also shared a video of Maccabi fans reportedly chanting "Israel will defeat the Arabs".
A statement issued by the Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecution office said the night after the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv match at the Johan Cruyff Arena was “very turbulent with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters”.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema had imposed a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations near the stadium.
It is understood that around 62 people have been arrested and an investigation into the violence has been launched.
During tonight’s match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Israeli supporters refused to hold a minute of silence for Valencia flood victims. They even started illegal fireworks. This comes after Spain cancelled arms deal with Israeli company worth billions. pic.twitter.com/paZGAPO7uB
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) November 7, 2024
Israel ordered that two planes be sent to the Dutch capital to bring the Israelis home.
Images shared on Twitter/X prior to the match also showed messages saying "kick Israel out of Uefa" and "genocide supporters NOT welcome here".
“Israel will defeat the Arabs” Maccabi fans call for the destruction of Arabs, supporting ethnic cleansing in Gaza, while being protected by the police in Amsterdam. What are you going to do about this @UEFA? Will you allow such racist, discriminatory chants go unpunished? pic.twitter.com/ZCGFqxqaAK
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) November 7, 2024
“The Prime Minister has directed that two rescue planes be sent immediately to assist our citizens,” said a statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
It added that “the harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked” and that Netanyahu “views the horrifying incident with utmost gravity”. He demanded that the Dutch government take “vigorous and swift action” against those involved.
Netanyahu’s office added that he had called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on Twitter/X that he followed reports of the violence “with horror”.
“Completely unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis. I am in close contact with everyone involved,” he added, saying that he had spoken to Netanyahu and “emphasised that the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted. It is now quiet in the capital.”
Geert Wilders, the hard-right nationalist lawmaker whose Party for Freedom won elections in the Netherlands last year and who is a staunch ally of Israel, reacted to a video apparently showing a Maccabi fan being surrounded by several men.
“Looks like a Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets. Ashamed that this can happen in The Netherlands. Totally unacceptable,” Wilders said.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon also condemned the violence in a post on the social media platform X.
Ajax won the Europa League match 5-0
