Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam, authorities say
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that two rescue planes be sent immediately to Amsterdam following “a very violent incident” targeting Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv after a soccer game against Ajax.
Roving gangs on scooters attacked and beat Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, overnight in an outburst of what authorities called antisemitic violence.
Footage circulating on social media showed supporters of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team being chased down and assaulted on Thursday night, with one video geolocated by NBC News to near Amsterdam's central station that showed fighting on the streets between the Israelis and their attackers.
"Boys on scooters crossed the city in search of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters," Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said. "It was a hit-and-run. Football fans were beaten and scared, after which the rioters quickly left again, fleeing the police force that was on the move en masse yesterday.”
A separate video geolocated by NBC News showed Israeli fans taunting pro-Palestinian protesters either before or after Thursday's match by singing “Death to the Arabs” and “Let the IDF win. We will f*** the Arabs,” as well as tearing down a Palestinian flag.
The war in Gaza triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack that killed 1,200 people has caused outrage throughout Europe, including in the Netherlands.
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