Amsterdam police arrested 62 people after yesterday’s clashes in Amsterdam, following the Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) and Ajax Europa League game. Despite violent videos flooding social media, details of the clashes involving Maccabi fans and unidentified people were few, according to the Guardian and AFP.
“In several places in the city, supporters were attacked, abused and pelted with fireworks. Riot police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels,” said Amsterdam officials.
Amsterdam’s mayor, F. Halsema, banned demonstrations for 3 days because of the incidents, which she condemned.
5 Israelis were hospitalized as a result of the clashes, while Benjamin Netanyahu sent two planes to bring back the fans. He characterized the incidents as a “premeditated anti-Semitic attack against Israeli citizens” and condemned them, as did the Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
There were previous tensions as Maccabi fans took down a Palestinian flag from the facade of a building yesterday, destroyed a taxi, and burned a Palestinian flag, according to the authorities. Videos on social media show Maccabi fans chanting in Hebrew, “Unify the Arabs! We will win!”.
