Dozens of arrests occurred in Amsterdam as violence erupted following a soccer match between Dutch team Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday. The turmoil, condemned by Israeli officials as antisemitic attacks, ignited tensions between supporters of both teams.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that arrangements were being made to send two planes to assist Israeli citizens affected by the violence. Concerning injuries, Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed that at least ten Israeli citizens suffered injuries, with reports of two still unaccounted for.
Amsterdam police reported that 57 individuals were taken into custody during the unrest, particularly near the Johan Cruyff Arena, the match venue. The police’s statement provided details of the events but refrained from explicitly linking the violence to antisemitism or identifying specific targets.
The confrontations began with Maccabi fans gathering in the city center, which escalated to unrest as they approached the stadium. Initial tensions in the crowd gradually subsided, leading to ten pre-game arrests primarily for public disturbance.
Further violence erupted at Anton de Komplein Square, close to the stadium, where protests against Maccabi Tel Aviv clashed with military police. Following this clash, approximately thirty individuals were arrested on similar grounds, including public disorder and launching fireworks at officers.
Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir indicated his office was collaborating with both the foreign and defense ministries, as well as Dutch authorities, to support the affected Israeli citizens. He condemned the violence, stating that fans were brutally attacked due to their Jewish identity.
Newly appointed Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar reassured the public that actions were underway to address the situation and encouraged those in need of assistance to reach out to relevant authorities. The situation in Amsterdam remains dynamic, with developments still unfolding.
