The leaders of Israel and the Netherlands condemned the “anti-Semitic” attacks on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Anti-Semitic rioters “actively sought out Israeli fans to target and attack them” after a soccer match, Amsterdam authorities said Friday, as Israel said it was sending planes to the Dutch capital to send fans home.

An unknown number of Israeli supporters were injured in Thursday night’s violence, which Dutch and Israeli leaders condemned as anti-Semitic.

A statement released by the Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecutor’s office said the night after the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv “was very violent with several incidents of violence directed at Maccabi supporters.”

The number of injured or detained has not yet been reported.

The violence erupted on Thursday despite a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the soccer stadium imposed by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, who feared clashes would break out between protesters and supporters of an Israeli soccer club.

Israel ordered two planes to be sent to the capital of the Netherlands to bring the Israelis home.

“The Prime Minister has ordered the immediate dispatch of two rescue planes to assist our citizens,” said a statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

It added that “the brutal images of the attack on our citizens in Amsterdam will not go unnoticed” and that Netanyahu “takes the horrific incident with extreme seriousness.” He demanded that the Dutch government take “decisive and swift action” against those involved. .

Netanyahu’s office added that he called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X that he was “horrified” by reports of violence.

“Absolutely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis. I am in close contact with everyone involved,” he added, saying he had spoken to Netanyahu and “stressed that those responsible will be sought out and brought to justice.” The capital is now quiet.”

Geert Wilders, a hard-right nationalist lawmaker whose Freedom Party won last year’s election in the Netherlands and is a staunch ally of Israel, reacted to the video, which apparently shows the Maccabi fan surrounded by several men.

“It’s like hunting Jews on the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum who attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters on our streets. It’s a shame that this could happen in the Netherlands. Absolutely unacceptable,” said Wilders.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, also condemned the violence in a post on social media platform X.

Ajax won the Europa League match with a score of 5:0.