New Delhi: Thursday’s attack on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam has sparked widespread outrage, with some condemning it as a “pogrom” against Jews, while others criticising Israel supporters for blaming Muslims for the violence. The assault occurred after a Europa League match between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch team Ajax at the Johan Cruijff Arena, when several Israelis were targeted by mobs and chased by men on scooters. Dutch authorities have confirmed that five people were severely injured in the incident.
Dozens of people were arrested, while 10 suspects remained in custody late Friday night, The Washington Post reported.
However, according to the police, the night before the match, Maccabi fans had vandalised a taxi and burned a Palestinian flag.
A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office Friday said that Israel is “doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security” of the attacked citizens and to arrange their return to Israel. The country also banned all personnel from visiting the Netherlands until further notice. Moreover, the Israeli foreign ministry advised its citizens to stay inside their hotels until they could be safely escorted to the airport.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu views the horrifying incident with utmost gravity and demands that the Dutch government and security forces take vigorous and swift action against the rioters, and ensure the safety of our citizens,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema described the violence as a “black night” for the city. “There is no excuse for this violence,” she said at a press conference Friday.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also condemned the violence, calling it “completely unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis”.
According to a Washington Post report, there’s no clarity on how the violence unfolded. It noted that there were reports of “tensions” between locals and soccer fans in several areas. The article quoted Amsterdam Police Chief Peter Holla, who explained that law enforcement had to step in at a casino on Wednesday night after “Israeli spectators vandalised a taxi, prompting some of the city’s cab drivers to mobilise and confront the fans.”
Additionally, the report highlighted a video, verified by The Washington Post, showing Maccabi fans “jeering and whistling while the rest of the stadium held a minute of silence for the victims of recent flooding in Valencia, Spain, where more than 200 people were killed.”
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Social media outrage
Video clips of the violence are being widely circulated on social media.
Naftali Bennett, former Israeli prime minister, wrote on X: “This seems like a PLANNED and ORGANIZED POGROM in Amsterdam.”
Highlighting the reaction of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Israeli journalist Hananya Naftali posted: “History is repeating, and silence is complicity. We must stand strong, call out the hatred, and make sure this NEVER happens again.”
POWERFUL WORDS from King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands: “We failed the Jews in World War II; last night we failed again.”
History is repeating, and silence is complicity. We must stand strong, call out the hatred, and make sure this NEVER happens again. ✡️ pic.twitter.com/P9DpaRDVDI
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) November 8, 2024
Dutch far-Right leader Geert Wilders called the incident “a Jew hunt in Amsterdam” on X and said that the mayor must resign. In another post, he wrote, “We have become the Gaza of Europe. Muslims with Palestinian flags hunting down Jews. I will NOT accept that. NEVER.”
A pogrom in the streets of #Amsterdam.
We have become the Gaza of Europe.
Muslims with Palestinian flags hunting down Jews.
I will NOT accept that. NEVER.
The authorities will be held accountable for their failure to protect the Israeli citizens.
Never again.
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) November 8, 2024
Ritchie Torres, a member of the Democratic Party in the US, shared a grab of a report by The New York Times, earlier titled “Violence Tied to Soccer Game Prompts Dozens of Arrests in Amsterdam”. He wrote: “There is no mention of the unprecedented nature of the event—a pogrom in the 21st century. No mention of its motive: antisemitism. No mention of its victims: Jews and Israelis. No mention of the response it necessitated: an emergency rescue operation by the Israeli government.”
The original NY Times headline reads: “Violence Tied to Soccer Game….” There is no mention of the unprecedented nature of the event—a pogrom in the 21st century. No mention of its motive: antisemitism. No mention of its victims: Jews and Israelis. No mention of the response it… pic.twitter.com/rEuzxECAzN
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) November 8, 2024
The Amsterdam incident comes amid the Israel-Hamas war and violence against Palestinians in Gaza. The conflict, that is now in its second year, has left European Muslims and Arabs divided. Till now, more than 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the majority of whom are reported to be women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Many X users have also called out Israelis and Israel supporters for blaming Muslims for the attack and spreading disinformation. “Another dishonest Zionist Propaganda agent is exposed spreading lies to hide the ugly acts of Maccabi’s supporters ..Ridiculous,” wrote a user. Some alleged that the Maccabi supporters had started a fight.
Another user shared a video of Maccabi supporters and wrote: “Maccabi supporters marching through Amsterdam, chanting: ‘No schools, no children left in Gaza. F*** the Arabs’ long before recent escalations.”
#WATCH:Maccabi supporters marching through Amsterdam, chanting: 'No schools, no children left in Gaza. F*ck the Arabs' long before recent escalations. #TelavivMeccabi #Israelis #AmsterdamAttack pic.twitter.com/RWzoYEDuXY
— Jamal Amin (@JamalibnAmin) November 9, 2024
Another X user remarked: “#AmsterdamAttack is all about EU giving cover to Israel and their genocide against Palestinians with the added bonus of stirring up xenophobia to close down Muslim refugees from finding asylum in EU.”
The headline is so pro Israeli. It has been established without a doubt that it was Israeli fans who started the trouble including vandalism and violence against local people. They also raised hateful slurs against arabs and ridiculed Palestinian children killed in Gaza genocide by Israel. The police commissioner in his press briefing said this unequivocally who started the trouble including damaging local taxis. But this whole report is meant to say as if it was the “poor Israeli” who were the victim here. Classic media whitewash of crimes by Israel and pinning the blame on just any other person. Shame even the Print is in this group of genocide supporters. Saying goodbye to it forever after being a regular reader for last few years.