Antisemitic attackers ‘sought out Israeli football fans’ after Amsterdam match

Antisemitic rioters “actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack” after a football match in Amsterdam as Israel said it was sending planes to the Dutch capital to fly fans home.

Five people were admitted to hospital and 62 arrested on Thursday night during the violence that was condemned by the leaders of both the Netherlands and Israel as antisemitic.

A statement issued by the Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecution office said the night after the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv match at the Johan Cruyff Arena “was very turbulent with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters”.

“In several places in the city, supporters were attacked. The police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels. Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli supporters have been injured,” the Amsterdam statement said.

“This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way. There is no excuse for the antisemitic behavior exhibited last night by rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them,” it added.

Authorities said extra police would patrol the city in coming days and security will be beefed up at Jewish institutions in the city that has a large Jewish community and was home to Jewish Second World War diarist Anne Frank and her family as they hid from Nazi occupiers.

The violence erupted despite a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the football stadium which was imposed by Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, who had feared that clashes would break out between protesters and supporters of the Israeli club.

There were also incidents involving fans ahead of the match. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that a Palestinian flag was ripped off a building in the centre of the city and riot police blocked pro-Palestinian supporters trying to march toward the stadium where the match was being played.

Israel initially ordered that two planes be sent to the Dutch capital to bring the Israelis home but later the prime minister’s office said it would work on “providing civil aviation solutions for the return of our citizens”.

A statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that “the harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked” and that Mr Netanyahu “views the horrifying incident with utmost gravity”. He demanded that the Dutch government take “vigorous and swift action” against those involved.

Mr Netanyahu’s office added that he had called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X that he followed reports of the violence “with horror”.

“Completely unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis. I am in close contact with everyone involved,” he added, saying that he had spoken to Mr Netanyahu and “emphasised that the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted. It is now quiet in the capital.”

Geert Wilders, the hard-right nationalist lawmaker whose Party for Freedom won elections in the Netherlands last year and who is a staunch ally of Israel, reacted to a video apparently showing a Maccabi fan being surrounded by several men.

“Looks like a Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets. Ashamed that this can happen in The Netherlands. Totally unacceptable,” Mr Wilders said.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon also condemned the violence in a post on the social media platform X.

Ajax won the Europa League match 5-0.