November 2024 Amsterdam attacks: Difference between revisions

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On 7 November 2024, before, during and after 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, Israeli football fans yelled anti-Arab slurs, pulling down Palestinian flags while assaulting structures and homes, attacking an Arab taxi driver, threatening passers-by and interrupting the minute of silence for the victims of the 2024 Spanish floods with whistles before the match.^[1][2][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] At first it was said that Israel dispatched rescue planes to evacuate Israeli citizens from the country,^[7] but this was later denied.^[8]

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 high-profile event in the Europa League, attracting fans from both the local Dutch community and the Israeli community.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[9] 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",^[10] indicating the tension prior to the violence eruption.^[10] 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, and tearing down a Palestinian flag.^[11] According to the Middle East Eye, an Arab taxi driver was attacked by a group reportedly linked to Israeli fans, though police made no arrests and did not confirm the attackers' identities.^[12]

After the game, groups reportedly began targeting Israeli fans in various areas of Amsterdam. The attacks included stabbings, vehicle-ramming attacks, and assaults.^[13] According to eyewitnesses, some attackers shouted pro-Palestinian slogans, such as "Free Palestine." At least 5 people were injured in the attacks.^[8][14]

On 8 November, Dutch police confirmed that they had arrested 62 people in relation to the attacks.^[8]

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.^[7] but this was later denied.^[15] Israeli and Dutch authorities coordinated efforts to provide medical and logistical support to the victims..

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!"^[16]

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.”^[17]

Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof described the attack as "completely unacceptable" and and told Netanyahu that those involved would be tracked down and prosecuted.^[6]

Geert Wilders, an anti-islam^[18] 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."^[17]

1. ^ Reporter, Staff. "Israeli hooligans target Palestinian symbols, stirring tension in Amsterdam". Israeli hooligans target Palestinian symbols, stirring tension in Amsterdam. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
2. ^ "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.
3. ^ "Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam, officials say". BBC News. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
4. ^ Video footage shows Israeli soccer fans taunting Arabs in Amsterdam with anti-Palestinian chants. Times of Israel
5. ^ Szekeres, Edward (8 November 2024). "Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam, Israeli and Dutch authorities say". CNN. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
6. ^ ^{a b} "Violent Attacks in Amsterdam Tied to Antisemitism". The New York Times. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
7. ^ ^{a b} "Netanyahu sends rescue planes as Israeli fans violently attacked after Amsterdam soccer match". National Post. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
8. ^ ^{a b c} Schoofs, Stien (8 November 2024). "Israëlische supporters belaagd en bekogeld in Amsterdam: 62 aanhoudingen, Israëlische buitenlandminister naar Nederland" (in Dutch). VRT. Belga. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
9. ^ "Amsterdam bans pro-Palestine protesters from rallying outside Ajax-Maccabi TLV match". The Jerusalem Post. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
10. ^ ^{a b} Video footage shows Israeli soccer fans taunting Arabs in Amsterdam with anti-Palestinian chants. Times of Israel
11. ^ "Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam, officials say". BBC News. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
12. ^ "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.
13. ^ "Pogrom in Amsterdam: Muslim Mob Attacks Israelis After Game". COLlive. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
14. ^ 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.
15. ^ "62 aanhoudingen in Amsterdam; Israëliërs gewond door aanvallen op Maccabi-supporters. Netanyahu stuurt toch geen vliegtuigen" (in Dutch). Noordhollands Dagblad. ANP. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
16. ^ "Netanyahu calls on Netherlands 'to act decisively and swiftly against the rioters' | The Times of Israel". The Times of Israel.
17. ^ ^{a b} "'Pogrom' in Amsterdam: Netanyahu sends planes to save Jews; 10 injured, 3 missing - JNS.org".
18. ^ Traynor, Ian (17 February 2008). "'I don't hate Muslims. I hate Islam,' says Holland's rising political star". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 8 November 2024.

• Violence against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam