Israel sends planes to bring football fans home after violent clashes in Amsterdam

LAST UPDATE | 22 hrs ago

ISRAEL HAS SENT planes to Amsterdam to bring football fans home after violent clashes in the Netherlands’ capital last night. 

The violence flared after the game between home team Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv that Ajax won 5-0.

Five people were hospitalised and 62 arrests were made as a result of the clashes, police confirmed today.

Tensions were high before, during and after the match. 

Last night, local police said they were being particularly vigilant in the wake of several incidents, including the tearing down of a Palestinian flag from a building.

Media outlet RTL said supporters of the Maccabi Tel Aviv clashed with other groups several times last night, including pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

A taxi driver was also assaulted by Maccabi supporters, RTL reported, after which a group of taxi drivers confronted those allegedly responsible.

Minute’s silence interrupted 

Social media platforms were flooded with unverified footage purported to be of the violence, but many details of the clashes are yet to be confirmed.

Unverified video on social media purportedly filmed on Thursday appeared to show some Maccabi fans chanting in Hebrew: “Finish the Arabs! We’re going to win!”

There are also reports that, at the match, some Israeli supporters booed and set off fireworks during a minute of silence held for Valencia flood victims.

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Spain, alongside Ireland and Norway, formally recognised the state of Palestine in May.

A pro-Palestinian rally demonstrating against the Israeli football club’s visit was initially scheduled to take place near the stadium, but was relocated by the Amsterdam city council for security reasons.

The violence took place amid increasing anti-Israeli sentiment and reported antisemitic acts across the world as Israel wages wars in Gaza and Lebanon, which have seen massive civilian casualties.

‘Explosion’ of antisemitism

The mayor of Amsterdam today announced tighter security measures in the city.

“I am ashamed” at what happened in the city, Femke Halsema said, as announced a temporary ban on protests.

Israeli, Dutch and European leaders on Friday condemned the clashes as antisemitic.

Halsema said the violence represented an “explosion” of antisemitism that has “not been seen in a long time”, describing “hit and run” attacks on Maccabi supporters by “hooligans on scooters”.

The United Nations today said it was deeply troubled by the clashes.

“We have seen these very troubling reports,” UN human rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence told a media briefing in Geneva.

“Nobody, nobody should be subjected to discrimination or violence on the basis of their national, religious, ethnic or other origin. We understand that the authorities have launched an investigation into this incident,” he added.

© AFP 2024 with additional reporting by Órla Ryan and Muiris Ó Cearbhaill