Israel has dispatched two planes to evacuate its citizens from Amsterdam following an attack on Israeli fans by pro-Palestinian demonstrators before the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday evening.
Despite Ajax’s decisive 5-0 victory, the event was overshadowed by violent clashes that erupted between pro-Palestinian activists and Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, sparking outrage from the Israeli government and prompting a strong response from both Israeli officials and the Dutch authorities.
According to reports from Amsterdam’s AT5 TV station, the pro-Palestinian protesters threw chairs at Maccabi Tel Aviv fans outside the stadium, escalating into violent confrontations. The altercations left several people injured, with five individuals requiring hospital treatment. Approximately 60 people were arrested in connection with the disturbances. The attack has been widely condemned as an act of antisemitic violence, with many expressing horror at the nature of the assault.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to social media on Friday morning to express his outrage over the attack, condemning the assault on Israeli citizens and calling for swift action from the Dutch government. In his statement, Netanyahu confirmed that two planes had been immediately sent to Amsterdam to help evacuate Israeli citizens and ensure their safety. His office emphasized that the disturbing images of the assault would not go unnoticed, and the Israeli government would take all necessary steps to protect its citizens abroad.
President Isaac Herzog of Israel also issued a strong condemnation of the violence, describing the attack on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans as a disturbing act of antisemitism. Herzog, in a statement on his social media, expressed his horror at the incident, drawing parallels to past periods of violence against the Jewish community. “What we are witnessing today is a horrific pogrom, one that we had hoped never to see again after October 7th,” Herzog wrote, referring to the recent violence in Israel. He emphasized the need for the Netherlands to take immediate and decisive action to protect Israeli citizens and Jews in the country.
Herzog spoke with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands later that afternoon, urging him to take all necessary measures to halt the wave of antisemitic violence that had erupted in Amsterdam. Herzog condemned the attack as a reminder of dark and troubling chapters in history. “These events must be unequivocally condemned,” he said, urging the Dutch authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety of all Israelis and Jews in the country. He further requested the swift evacuation of all Israeli nationals, including several who remain unaccounted for.
In response, King Willem-Alexander expressed his deep shock and condemnation of the violence. Acknowledging the Netherlands’ historical failures to protect the Jewish community during World War II, the King conveyed his outrage at the attacks and vowed that the Dutch government would do everything in its power to ensure the safety of all visitors to the country. He promised to facilitate the safe return of Israeli citizens to Israel and assured President Herzog that the situation was being taken very seriously.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also condemned the violence, emphasizing that the Dutch government was fully committed to protecting Israelis and ensuring their safe return. He updated President Herzog on the measures being taken to address the situation and reiterated that every effort was being made to bring those responsible for the violence to justice.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Israeli government has made it clear that it will not tolerate such acts of violence against its citizens. The diplomatic exchanges between Israeli and Dutch officials reflect the seriousness with which both nations are addressing the incident, as they work together to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and prevent further escalation.
