Israel has deployed two planes to evacuate its citizens from Amsterdam after an attack by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv before their Europa Cup match against Ajax. The incident, which occurred Thursday night, saw Ajax triumph with a 5-0 win, but the violent clash between demonstrators and Israeli fans drew swift condemnation from Israel’s government.
Local station AT5 reported that demonstrators threw chairs at Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, leading to the detention of approximately 60 individuals and hospitalization of five. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks on social media, demanding urgent action from the Netherlands.
President Isaac Herzog echoed these sentiments, describing the attacks as a “horrific scene of antisemitic violence” reminiscent of a dark history. In a conversation with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Herzog underscored the urgent need for the safety of Jewish and Israeli citizens in the Netherlands. King Willem-Alexander expressed regret, noting, “We failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during World War II, and last night we failed again.”
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof has since assured Israeli officials that all necessary measures are being taken to protect Israelis and facilitate their safe return to Israel.
News Editor