Israeli and Dutch political leaders have condemned violent attacks targeting Israeli football fans overnight, with right-wing politician Geert Wilders describing the incident as a “Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam”.
Fans of Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv football team who’d travelled to the Netherlands for a match against Ajax Amsterdam were attacked in the streets of the Dutch capital following the conclusion of the game.
Police stated that the supporters left the match without trouble, but that violence occurred once the crowds had dispersed.
Unverified social media footage appears to show crowds of men running through the streets and various people being beaten and intimidated.
Some videos show the football fans forced to say “Free Palestine” in order to avoid attack.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said in a post on X that he was “horrified” by the “antisemitic attacks on Israeli citizens”.
“This is completely unacceptable. I am in close contact with all parties involved and have just spoken to @IsraeliPM Netanyahu by phone to stress that the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted.
“The situation in Amsterdam is now calm once more,” he added.
PVV politician Geert Wilders described the incident as a “pogrom” and criticised a lack of police protection following the match.
“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. The authorities will be held accountable for their failure to protect the Israeli citizens. Never again,” Mr Wilders wrote on X.
As a result of the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered two “rescue planes” to be sent to Amsterdam, while the country’s Foreign Ministry advised its citizens to remain in their hotel rooms.
US antisemitism envoy Deborah Lipstadt said that the scenes in Amsterdam were “terribly reminiscent of a classic pogrom”.
“I am also deeply disturbed by how long the reported attacks lasted and call on the government to conduct a thorough investigation into security force intervention and on how these despicable attacks transpired,” she added.
Police said that 57 people were detained following the violence.