Arab Canada News

News

Netherlands: Israeli team fans attacked in Amsterdam and police mobilize

Netherlands: Israeli team fans attacked in Amsterdam and police mobilize

By م.زهير الشاعر

Published: November 8, 2024

The Amsterdam police said: We have deployed additional forces in the capital following signals of tensions in several areas.

For his part, Netanyahu's office stated that the Prime Minister ordered two planes to be sent to the Netherlands to evacuate Israeli citizens.

Israeli media reported that several Israeli fans were subjected to violent incidents and assaults in Amsterdam on Friday night, after they flocked to the Dutch capital to attend a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in the UEFA Europa League.

The Israeli newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" reported that fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv were attacked violently in several locations in Amsterdam after the match, which ended in a 5-0 victory for Ajax.

Videos circulated on social media showed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being assaulted and run over, which one fan described as apparently "premeditated."

According to "Yedioth Ahronoth," the assaults carried out by masked individuals targeted several hotels where Israelis were staying.

The Israeli newspaper quoted Dutch media as saying that police forces are attempting to control the violence in Amsterdam and have assisted dozens of Israeli fans who were attacked while arresting several individuals who perpetrated the assaults.

"Yedioth Ahronoth" quoted a testimony from one of the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans who was attacked, saying: "They ran me over and threatened me with a knife. I sustained minor injuries. Myself and a large number of fans are trapped in a hotel, and the police are not allowing us to leave. We want to return to Israel."

Commenting on the assaults, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated in a post on his official account on "X": "We are cooperating with the authorities in the Netherlands regarding the serious incidents there. Any Israeli or Jew in distress at the moment or who has information about the location of a violent event currently taking place should contact the Israeli embassy's operations room."

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister issued a statement stating that "Benjamin Netanyahu is aware of the details of the severe acts of violence that occurred in Amsterdam against Israeli citizens, and he conducted a situation assessment with the Foreign Minister and his military secretary, receiving regular updates all the time."

The statement added: "The Prime Minister ordered the immediate release of two rescue planes to assist our citizens. The Prime Minister takes this horrifying event seriously and demands that the Dutch government and security forces act decisively and swiftly against the rioters and ensure peace for our citizens."

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett posted a message on his account in "X" saying: "I am receiving videos and testimonies about Israelis in Amsterdam being subjected to brutal attacks. People being run over, beaten, thrown into the river, and more. I call on the Dutch authorities to take immediate action to prevent injuries and worse."

For his part, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said: "I am in contact with the Dutch authorities regarding the disturbances and attacks on Israeli nationals in Amsterdam."

The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said: "We are now receiving reports of severe persecution and violence against Israelis and Jews in the streets of the Netherlands. This is a massacre currently taking place in Europe in 2024."

Danon emphasized: "This is the moment for the United Nations to condemn unequivocally and immediately the violence of the Palestinians and their supporters. The Dutch authorities must take decisive action against the violence now."

It is worth noting that the website "Israel Hayom" reported that 5 Israeli fans were injured in the assaults in Amsterdam.

Comments

Related

Weather

Today

Saturday, 05 July 2025

Loading...
icon --°C

--°C

--°C

  • --%
  • -- kmh
  • --%