AMSTERDAM: Amsterdam banned demonstrations for 3 days from on Friday (Nov 8) after in a single day assaults on Israeli soccer supporters by what the mayor referred to as “antisemitic hit-and-run squads”, and Israel mentioned it might fly many followers house.
Mayor Femke Halsema mentioned Maccabi followers had been “attacked, abused and pelted with fireworks” across the metropolis, and that riot police intervened to guard them and escort them to accommodations. At the very least 5 individuals have been handled in hospital.
Movies on social media confirmed riot police in motion, with some attackers shouting anti-Israeli slurs. Some footage additionally confirmed Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters chanting anti-Arab slogans earlier than Thursday night’s match.
“We noticed quite a lot of demonstrations, lots of people operating. It was actually, actually terrifying,” mentioned Joni Pogrebetsy, an Israeli soccer fan in Amsterdam for the match.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned Israel was sending planes to the Netherlands to carry followers house.
Antisemitic incidents have surged within the Netherlands since Israel launched its assault on Gaza after the assaults on Israel by the Palestinian Hamas group on Oct 7, 2023, with many Jewish organisations and faculties reporting threats and hate mail.
Amsterdam banned demonstrations by way of the weekend and gave police emergency stop-and-search powers in response to unrest that uncovered deep anger over the Gaza-Israel battle.
Over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, 102,000 others injured and thousands and thousands displaced in Israel’s army offensive on Gaza, in keeping with well being officers within the enclave, after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took greater than 250 hostage, in keeping with Israel.
Halsema mentioned metropolis police had been taken abruptly after safety providers didn’t flag the match in opposition to Ajax Amsterdam, historically recognized as a Jewish membership, as high-risk. “Antisemitic hit-and-run squads” had managed to evade a pressure of round 200 officers, she mentioned.
Safety was tightened within the metropolis, the place a service was deliberate at a Jewish monument on Saturday. On Thursday, tons of had gathered to recollect Kristallnacht, the Nazi pogrom in opposition to Jews throughout Germany on Nov. 9-10, 1938.
