Maccabi/Ajax: Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam, Israeli and Dutch authorities say

CNN
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Israeli soccer fans were attacked in a “serious incident of violence in Amsterdam” on Friday night, authorities said, and the Israeli government said it was sending planes to evacuate the affected citizens.

Hundreds of fans of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv were “ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam” on Thursday night as they left the stadium after a Europa League game against Ajax of the Netherlands, the Israeli embassy in the United States said on social media platform X.

A video released by the embassy on social networks shows violence against Maccabi fans. CNN has not yet been able to verify the videos.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was “appalled by the anti-Semitic attacks on Israeli citizens.”

“This is absolutely unacceptable. I am in close contact with all parties involved and have just spoken on the phone with (Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu to emphasize that those responsible will be identified and brought to justice,” he said, adding that “the situation in Amsterdam is again calm”.

In his conversation with Shuf, Netanyahu stressed the “extreme importance” of the Dutch government guaranteeing the safety of all Israelis in the Netherlands, the Israeli prime minister’s office said.

“Netanyahu said he considers the planned anti-Semitic attack on Israeli citizens serious,” the prime minister’s office said, adding that he asked for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

Political tensions were rising ahead of Thursday night’s match when numerous unconfirmed videos emerged on social media of Maccabi fans chanting slogans about the conflict in the Middle East. CNN has not yet been able to verify the videos.

Local police said 57 people were detained after the game as pro-Palestinian demonstrators tried to reach the Johan Cruyff stadium despite the city banning them from protesting there, Reuters reported. Police said fans left the stadium without incident, but various clashes were reported in the city center overnight.

CNN reached out to Amsterdam police for an update on the latest reports of violence.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said 10 citizens were injured and advised Israelis in Amsterdam to stay in hotels.

“The reports give the impression that the situation is calming down in the last hour,” Saar said.

He condemned the attacks as “barbaric and anti-Semitic” and called them “a wake-up call for Europe and the world”.

According to Israel’s foreign ministry, Saar also asked his Dutch counterpart Kaspar Veldkamp to help take the Israelis from their hotels to the airport.

In a statement from his office, Netanyahu said he was ordering the “immediate release of two rescue planes” to help Israeli citizens. He called on the Dutch authorities to “act decisively and quickly against the rebels and ensure the peace of our citizens.”

Israel’s armed forces said they were leading the evacuation flights.

“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is preparing to immediately launch a rescue mission in coordination with the government of the Netherlands,” the military said. “The mission will be deployed using cargo planes and will include medical and rescue teams.”

Maccabi fans were in the Dutch capital ahead of their Europa League game against Ajax, which the local team won 5-0.

Amsterdam police said they had increased their presence in the city center on Wednesday night, citing “tension” in several areas the day before the match.

Officers “prevented a confrontation between a group of taxi drivers and a group of visitors who had come from a nearby casino” on Wednesday night, police said in a statement on X, marking another incident in which a Palestinian flag was torn down in central Amsterdam. unknown attackers.

This story is evolving and will be updated.