Amsterdam enforced a three-day demonstration ban following violent attacks on Israeli soccer fans by what Mayor Femke Halsema described as "antisemitic hit-and-run squads."
After Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters faced harassment and were struck with fireworks throughout the city, riot police intervened to escort them to safety, with at least five fans needing hospital care.
Social media videos captured riot police in action and showed attackers hurling anti-Israeli slurs. Maccabi supporters were also filmed chanting anti-Arab slogans before their Europa League match against Ajax.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced flights for Israeli fans, prioritizing their safety.
The Netherlands has experienced a surge in antisemitic incidents since Israel’s military response to the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault.
Deep divisions over the Israel-Gaza conflict led Amsterdam to empower police with stop-and-search measures and curb demonstrations through the weekend.
Footage verified by Reuters revealed attackers chasing Israeli fans near Amsterdam’s central station. In response, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof assured Netanyahu that the attackers would face justice.
At the same time, Dutch King Willem-Alexander condemned the violence, citing the country’s WWII history of failing to protect its Jewish community.
Police detained 62 suspects after pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempted to disrupt the match, which Ajax won 5-0 despite the protest ban.
Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog, drew parallels between these incidents and historical pogroms.
The violence has prompted solidarity demonstrations for both sides of the conflict across Europe and the U.S., with rising tensions leading to attacks on both Jewish and Arab communities.
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