It has been suggested that 2024 antisemitic riots in Amsterdam be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since November 2024. |
This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (November 2024) |
On 7 November 2024, before, during and following a football match between Dutch AFC Ajax and Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. during the UEFA Europa League in the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands,[1] Israeli football fans yelled anti-Arab slurs,[2] pulling down Palestinian flags while assaulting structures and homes, attacked an Arab taxi driver, threatened passers-by and interrupted the minute of silence for the victims of the 2024 Spanish floods with whistles before the match.[3][4] After the match, the Maccabi Tel Aviv's fans were chased by locals, with some being injured. Multiple incidents were reported across the city.[5][6]
| November 2024 Amsterdam riots | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
| Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.'s fans | Amsterdam locals | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 6 injured | 62 arrested | ||||
| 1 Arab taxi driver injured by Maccabi Tel Aviv's fans | |||||
Background
Tension and violence between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups have increased amid heightened global tensions related to the Israel–Hamas war, resulting in anti-Palestinian and anti-Israeli sentiments and violent incidents.
The match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv was a Europa League group stage match held at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Prior to the match, Amsterdam's mayor Femke Halsema had banned pro-Palestinian protests from being held in the immediate vicinity of the Johan Cruyff Arena, with a planned rally being moved a kilometre away from the stadium.[7] Prior to the eruption of violence, the Israeli fans were chanting anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slurs such as "We’ll fuck the Arabs" and "Fuck you Palestine",[8] indicating the tension prior to the violence eruption.[8][9] On top of that, the Maccabi fans were disrespectful when they were not silent during a moment of silence for the victims of the recent floods in Spain.[10][11] A group of Pro-Palestinian protesters had been stopped by riot police while attempting to enter the stadium, and trouble between the protesters and Maccabi fans had been reported ahead of the match, including Maccabi fans setting off fireworks, tearing down a Palestinian flag,[12] and reportedly attacking an Arab taxi driver.[13][14][15] The pro-Israeli hooligans[16] of the Maccabi Tel Aviv team have a history of attacking individuals carrying Palestinian flags, i.e. an incident in Athens during a football match earlier in March 2024.[17]
Attacks
After the game, groups reportedly began targeting Israeli fans in various areas of Amsterdam. The attacks included stabbings, vehicle-ramming attacks,[18] and assaults.[19] According to eyewitnesses, some attackers shouted pro-Palestinian slogans, such as "Free Palestine." At least 5 people were injured in the attacks.[20]
On 8 November, Dutch police confirmed that they had arrested 62 people in relation to the attacks.[21]
Response
At approximately 4:30 a.m. local time, the Israeli government was said to have dispatched two planes to Amsterdam to assist and, if necessary, evacuate Israeli citizens affected by the attacks.[22] but this was later denied.[23] Israeli and Dutch authorities coordinated efforts to provide medical and logistical support to the victims..
Reactions
Israeli
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks, stating on X: "These are the true faces of the radical terrorism we are fighting. The Western world needs to wake up now!"[24]
Israeli diplomat Danny Danon stated that “We are receiving very disturbing reports of extreme violence against Israelis and Jews on the streets of Holland. There is a pogrom currently taking place in Europe in 2024.”[25]
Dutch
Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof described the attack as "completely unacceptable" and told Netanyahu that those involved would be tracked down and prosecuted.[6]
Geert Wilders, an Dutch politician who leads the right-wing Party for Freedom, wrote that the incident: "looks like a Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam... 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."[25]
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema said the city is looking back at a "black night and a dark day" where Jewish life and culture was threatened.[26]
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands spoke with Isaac Herzog about the attack, telling him: “We failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during World War II, and last night we failed again.”[27][28]
References
- ^ "Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam, officials say". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Video footage shows Israeli soccer fans taunting Arabs in Amsterdam with anti-Palestinian chants. Times of Israel
- ^ "Israeli hooligans provoke clashes in Amsterdam after chanting anti-Palestinian slogans". Middle East Eye. 8 November 2024. Archived from the original on 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam, officials say". BBC News. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Szekeres, Edward (8 November 2024). "Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam, Israeli and Dutch authorities say". CNN. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Violent Attacks in Amsterdam Tied to Antisemitism". The New York Times. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Amsterdam bans pro-Palestine protesters from rallying outside Ajax-Maccabi TLV match". The Jerusalem Post. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b Video footage shows Israeli soccer fans taunting Arabs in Amsterdam with anti-Palestinian chants. Times of Israel
- ^ https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/151452
- ^ "Israeli football fans attacked: Videos appear to show Maccabi fans chanting racist slogans". BBC News. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ https://x.com/SprinterFamily/status/1854801382605193597
- ^ "Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam, officials say". BBC News. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Israeli hooligans provoke clashes in Amsterdam after chanting anti-Palestinian slogans". Middle East Eye. 8 November 2024. Archived from the original on 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Reporter, Staff. "Israeli hooligans target Palestinian symbols, stirring tension in Amsterdam". Israeli hooligans target Palestinian symbols, stirring tension in Amsterdam. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Israeli football fans attacked: Amsterdam mayor condemns 'hit and run' attacks on Israeli football supporters". BBC News. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Pro-Israeli hooligans attack man carrying Palestinian flag in Greek capital". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Ynet (7 March 2024). "Israelis clash with pro-Palestinian protester in Greece". Ynetnews. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Maccabi Tel Aviv fans targeted in Amsterdam stabbings, car ramming after soccer match". ynetnews.com. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Pogrom in Amsterdam: Muslim Mob Attacks Israelis After Game". COLlive. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ sports, Ynet (8 November 2024). "Stabbings, car ramming as Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer fans violently attacked in Amsterdam after match". Ynetnews – via www.ynetnews.com.
- ^ "Rioters in Amsterdam targeted Israeli fans in 'explosion of antisemitism'". BBC News. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Netanyahu sends planes to Amsterdam to rescue Jews from 'pogrom'". J-Wire. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "62 aanhoudingen in Amsterdam; Israëliërs gewond door aanvallen op Maccabi-supporters. Netanyahu stuurt toch geen vliegtuigen". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Netanyahu calls on Netherlands 'to act decisively and swiftly against the rioters' | The Times of Israel". The Times of Israel.
- ^ a b "'Pogrom' in Amsterdam: Netanyahu sends planes to save Jews; 10 injured, 3 missing - JNS.org".
- ^ "Amsterdam mayor condemns 'hit and run' attacks on Israeli football supporters". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "King of the Netherlands: 'We failed the Jewish community during World War II, and last night we failed again'". The Times of Israel. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Lis, Jonathan; Aderet, Ofer; Halutz, Avshalom (8 November 2024). "Dutch King Condemns 'Antisemitic' Attack on Israeli Soccer Fans in Amsterdam; Assailants Chanted 'Free Palestine'". Haaretz. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)