‘Pogrom’ in Amsterdam as Israeli soccer fans come under brutal assault by rioters
10 injured, 3 missing, many besieged in hotels as
gangs of hooligans ambush Israelis after game; Jerusalem prepares to
send IDF cargo planes for rescue, urges Israelis to shelter in hotels
Israeli soccer fans came under an apparently organized,
widespread attack by anti-Israel rioters in Amsterdam Thursday night
following a match, with Dutch security forces seemingly helpless to
protect the tourists as they were ambushed by gangs of masked assailants
who shouted “Free Palestine” as they hunted, beat and harassed the
Israelis.
Ten Israelis were hospitalized and three were out of contact with
their families following the hours of violence, apparently perpetrated
largely by local Muslims and Arabs, with hundreds more people reportedly
besieged in their hotels and fearing they could be attacked again when
trying to reach their flights home.
Israel said it held Dutch authorities responsible for the safety of
its citizens as it prepared to send IDF cargo planes to conduct a rescue
mission for those in need.
In the early morning, Israel’s Foreign Ministry advised all Israeli
citizens not to leave their hotels as it worked with local authorities
to ensure their safety. At 9 a.m. it put out updated instructions,
saying local security forces had been deployed, and it was safe to head
to the airport. At the same time, it said they should avoid displaying
Israeli and Jewish symbols on the streets. Israelis were advised to head
back home as early as possible, with planes expected to land in
Amsterdam in the coming hours. Details about the flights would be
published in subsequent updates, it said.
Dutch authorities said by morning that the situation appeared to have
calmed down and that they had made dozens of arrests. Dutch Prime
Minister Dick Schoof said the violence was unacceptable, adding that all
perpetrators needed to be prosecuted. “I followed the news from
Amsterdam with disgust,” Schoof said in a post on X in which he also
said he was in touch with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu
regarding the incident.
The violence began late on Thursday night following a match between
Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam. Fans reported being
attacked by Arabic-speaking gangs after the match and ambushed outside
the stadium and at their hotels by organized groups. Many of the
attackers were masked and some carried Palestinian flags. Footage on
social media showed attackers chasing Israelis, beating them and at
times kicking them while on the ground.
Israelis reported being harassed and hunted by the rioters for hours
with little effective intervention by local police, chased into hiding
and hounded at their hotels. Some Israelis had their passports stolen,
according to Hebrew media outlets. Some videos showed individuals on the
ground begging to be left alone. One offered money to his attackers.
Another clip showed a man with a kippah in the street being badgered by
rioters demanding to know where he was from as he tried to get away.
Many described the experience as “a pogrom” that revived the trauma
of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, particularly in light of the lack of
protection by the authorities.
“They were waiting in groups at every corner and the moment they identified Jews they chased them,” one Israeli told Kan News.
“It was Kristallnacht 2,” a second told Channel 12 news. “We’re not safe here, we’re shut inside our hotel.”
“Dozens attacked us. It looked planned,” another told Ynet
Netanyahu’s office said the premier had instructed that two planes be
dispatched to Amsterdam to bring back Israelis, and the Israeli military
said that the mission “will be deployed using cargo aircraft and
include medical and rescue teams,” in coordination with the Dutch
government.
“The mission will be deployed using cargo aircraft and include medical and rescue teams,” the IDF said.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office quoted Netanyahu calling
on Schoof and local security forces “to act decisively and swiftly
against the rioters, and to ensure the wellbeing of our citizens.” He
also asked for increased security for the Jewish community in the
Netherlands.
The premier thanked Schoof for his statements on the attack, which he called antisemitic.
Israel’s National Security Council issued a stark warning to Israelis
and Jews in Amsterdam, calling on those who are out in public not to
display any Israeli or Jewish symbols.
Newly appointed foreign minister Gideon Saar said in a statement that
he had requested the Dutch government’s assistance in ensuring Israeli
citizens’ safe exit from their hotels to the airport.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon also denounced the violence
as “a pogrom.” He added “These are the true faces of the supporters of
the radical terrorism we are fighting. The Western world needs to wake
up now!!” he wrote in a post on X.
Hard-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders, whose party is a member of the Netherlands’ government, strongly denounced the attacks.
