UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – The new head of Israeli diplomacy, Gideon Saar, will shortly go to Amsterdam for an “urgent diplomatic visit”. Local police announce that they have made 62 arrests.
According to the Israeli newspaper Times of IsraelSeveral supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv football club were attacked on the streets of Amsterdam, Netherlands, after the Israeli football team lost 5-0 to local club Ajax on Thursday (November 7) in the evening. According to Haaretzaround 3,000 Israeli citizens traveled to Amsterdam to attend the meeting.
The first plane to repatriate Israelis took off from Ben Gurion
The first plane intended to repatriate Israeli citizens from Amsterdam took off from Ben Gurion Airport, a spokesperson for the Israeli airport authorities, Liza Dvir, told AFP. The aircraft, the first of several planned evacuation planes, is expected in Amsterdam early this afternoon.
Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev asked her Dutch counterpart Barry Madlener to ensure “secure transportation of passengers from hotels to the airport”. She also asked that Schipol Airport in Amsterdam remain open at night this weekend and that “all necessary permits” be granted to Israeli evacuation planes.
The French Minister for Europe denounces a “hunt for Jews on European soil”
«The images of violence against Israeli supporters that come to us from Amsterdam are unbearable: a hunt for Jews on European soil. No weakness, no cowardice in the face of anti-Semitism”wrote on X Benjamin Haddad.
Five people hospitalized and 62 arrests
According to the latest report communicated by the police, five people are hospitalized. 62 others were arrested.
The head of Israeli diplomacy will urgently go to Amsterdam
Gideon Saar will soon travel to Amsterdam for a “urgent diplomatic visit” after the clashes on the sidelines of the football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Thursday evening, his services announced on Friday.
“In light of the serious events, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will soon leave for an urgent diplomatic visit to the Netherlands”the ministry said in a press release.
Israeli president denounces “pogrom”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog estimated that the images of the clashes in Amsterdam on the sidelines of a football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv were reminiscent of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 in Israel, and denounced a “anti-Semitic pogrom”.
“We see with horror this morning the shocking images and videos that, since October 7, we had hoped never to see again: an ongoing anti-Semitic pogrom against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in the heart of Amsterdam”he wrote on X.
Benjamin Netanyahu denounces “a premeditated anti-Semitic attack”
The Israeli Prime Minister denounced this Friday as a “premeditated anti-Semitic attack” the violence suffered by Israeli supporters during the night in Amsterdam.
During a telephone interview with his Dutch counterpart, Dick Schoof, Benjamin Netanyahu “stated that he viewed the premeditated anti-Semitic attack against Israeli citizens with seriousness and called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands”indicates a press release from his office.
Dutch Prime Minister denounces “unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks”
Dick Schoof also denounced on “totally unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis”. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands also announced that he had spoken with his Israeli counterpart. “The perpetrators of this violence would be prosecuted and judged. Calm now reigns in the capital”he concludes.
At least ten supporters injured
During the night of Friday, videos published on social networks showed according to the newspaper “brutal attacks by masked attackers, some of whom carried Palestinian flags and shouted “Liberate Palestine!”” According to Haaretzaround ten Israeli supporters were reportedly injured, and contact was lost with two others.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Israeli nationals in Amsterdam to stay in their hotel rooms following the attacks on the city’s streets. “Fans who went to watch a football match faced anti-Semitism and were attacked with unimaginable cruelty simply because they were Jewish and Israeli”said the minister.
A “planned ambush” according to Maariv
The Israeli daily Maarivwho collected testimonies on site from supporters, evokes for his part “planned ambushes”which would have been tense by individuals speaking in Arabic. A witness cited by the newspaper explains that one of his friends was kidnapped. “I called his phone and the Arabs answered”he explained.
Always according to Maarivwho does not hesitate to talk about «pogrom»several other kidnapping attempts were reported, as well as stabbing and car ramming attacks.
Netanyahu sends relief
On the social network X, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett calls on the Dutch authorities to act without delay.
According to the Reuters news agency, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared overnight that it had been informed “very violent incidents targeting Israelis”and urgently dispatched two emergency planes to the site to provide assistance to his fellow citizens.
