New Delhi: Israel football fans have found themselves on the receiving end in Amsterdam as hundreds of Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv football club supporters were reportedly assaulted after their Europa League match against Dutch team AFC Ajax.
According to the reports by CNN the fans “were ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam”. The video footage circulating on social media captured the assailants carrying Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine” while forcing the Israeli fans to echo the same slogan. The footage was shared by Israel’s embassy in the United States.
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Hundreds of fans of the @MaccabiTLVFC soccer team were ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam tonight as they left the stadium following a game against @AFCAjax.
The mob who targeted these innocent Israelis has proudly shared their violent acts on social media.… pic.twitter.com/R3vRAIKrIG
— Embassy of Israel to the USA (@IsraelinUSA) November 8, 2024
Following the incident Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz urged his Dutch counterpart to ensure the safe evacuation of Israeli citizens from the Netherlands. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Friday acknowledging the “very violent incident” that targeted Israeli nationals. He ordered two rescue planes to be dispatched to aid Israeli citizens in Amsterdam. Israel president also took to his social media handle and hoped never to see again such incident.
We see with horror this morning, the shocking images and videos that since October 7th, we had hoped never to see again: an antisemitic pogrom currently taking place against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in the heart of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
This is a serious…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) November 8, 2024
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the violence against Israeli fans, calling it “unacceptable” and demanded legal action against those involved. “I followed the reports from Amsterdam with revulsion,” Schoof wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), noting that he had been in contact with Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the incident.
Met afschuw de berichtgeving uit Amsterdam gevolgd. Volstrekt onacceptabele antisemitische aanvallen op Israëliërs. Ik sta in nauw contact met alle betrokkenen. Zojuist in een call met @IsraeliPM Netanyahu benadrukt dat de daders zullen worden opgespoord en vervolgd. Het is nu…
— Dick Schoof (@MinPres) November 8, 2024
Local police said 57 people were held after the game as pro-Palestinian supporters tried to enter the Johan Cruyff stadium even the city had forbidden any sort of protest near stadium.
The Israeli Defense Forces announced that they are coordinating with the Dutch government to deploy a rescue operation which will include medical and support teams using military cargo planes. Meanwhile, the football match itself ended in a decisive 5-0 victory for Ajax with goals by Traoré, Taylor, Godts, Brobbey, and Fitz-Jim.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered two rescue planes to be sent to Amsterdam following a violent attack targeting Israeli citizens after a football match, his office confirmed on Friday. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
