Israel sends planes to Amsterdam after soccer violence

An Israeli plane sent to bring back soccer fans from Amsterdam after clashes in the Dutch city has taken off from Ben Gurion airport, the Israel Airports Authority said.

Liza Dvir, spokeswoman for the authority, said that the plane, the first of two, was expected to land in Amsterdam in a few hours to bring fans home after clashes erupted following a Europa League football match.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered two rescue planes be sent to the Netherlands after the violence with videos circulating on social media showing street clashes overnight and riot police intervening.

Five people were hospitalised and 62 arrested as a result of the clashes, police said.

"Several reports about last night's events in Amsterdam are circulating on social media," Amsterdam police said in a post on X. "So far, it is known that five people have been taken to the hospital and 62 individuals have been arrested."

The Israeli order to send planes was taken after "a very violent incident" targeting Israeli citizens following the game between Ajax Amsterdam, traditionally identified as a Jewish club, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, his office said.

An eyewitness captured a video verified by Reuters showing a group of men running near Amsterdam central station, chasing and assaulting other men, as police sirens sounded.

Amsterdam's mayor Femke Halsema said her services were still in the process of ascertaining the full extent of the violence.

"Despite the massive police deployment in the city, Israeli supporters were injured," Ms Halsema said in an Instagram post, adding that the exact figure of victims and people arrested was not yet clear.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he was "horrified by the anti-Semitic attacks on Israeli citizens. This is completely unacceptable."

In a phone call with Mr Netanyahu he assured him "that the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted," he said in a statement on X.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks.

"Outraged by last night's vile attacks targeting Israeli citizens in Amsterdam," Ms von der Leyen said in a post on X, adding she had discussed the matter with Mr Schoof.

"I strongly condemn these unacceptable acts. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in Europe. And we are determined to fight all forms of hatred."

Local police said 62 suspects had been detained after the game as pro-Palestinian demonstrators tried to reach the Johan Cruyff stadium, even though the city had forbidden a protest there.

Police said fans had left the stadium without incident, but clashes erupted overnight in the city centre.

Israeli media and politicians reacted with shock to the violence, calling it some of the most serious seen since the start of the Gaza war more than a year ago.

The largest-selling newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Israeli fans who said the attacks appeared to be planned.

President Isaac Herzog was among senior Israeli politicians who said the violence recalled the attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen last year as well as the anti-Semitic attacks on European Jews in the pogroms of previous centuries.

"We see with horror this morning, the shocking images and videos that since October 7th, we had hoped never to see again: an anti-Semitic pogrom currently taking place against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in the heart of Amsterdam," he wrote in a message on the social media platform X.

The Israeli military said it is preparing to immediately deploy a rescue mission with the coordination of the Dutch government after the football game, in which Ajax defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 5-0.

"The mission will be deployed using cargo aircraft and include medical and rescue teams," the IDF said.

A Nations League football match between France and Israel will go ahead as planned next week at the Stade de France in Paris despite the clashes, the French interior minister said.

"Some are calling for the France-Israel match to be relocated. I do not accept this," Bruno Retailleau wrote on X.

"France is not backing down because that would amount to giving up in the face of threats of violence and anti-Semitism," he added, saying he had asked Paris police chief Laurent Nunez to take the necessary security measures for the 14 November match.

Tensions have been running high in the Middle East and abroad since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

At least 43,469 Palestinians have been killed and 102,561 others injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza in response to the Hamas attack, according to health officials in the enclave.

The Gaza war has sparked protests in support of both sides across Europe and the United States and Arabs and Jews have been attacked.

Anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders, the leader of the largest party in the Dutch government, condemned the reported Amsterdam attacks in a post on X.

"Ashamed that this can happen in The Netherlands. Totally unacceptable," he said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has asked the Dutch government to help Israeli citizens arrive safely at the airport, he told his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp in a phone call this morning.