Israel dispatched two planes to bring fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv back home from the Netherlands on Friday after a night of violent street attacks in Amsterdam that officials have labeled as antisemitic. The incidents unfolded following a Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam, a club traditionally identified with the Jewish community.
Videos circulating on social media showed riot police stepping in to manage escalating tensions, with footage capturing individuals shouting anti-Israeli slurs. According to Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were “attacked, abused, and pelted with fireworks.” Riot police reportedly intervened multiple times, helping supporters reach their hotels safely.
Antisemitic incidents in the Netherlands have risen sharply since Israel began its offensive on Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Israel issued a statement explaining that the evacuation was ordered after a “very violent incident” against Israeli citizens in Amsterdam’s city center. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof spoke with Netanyahu, condemning the attacks as “completely unacceptable” and pledging that the perpetrators would be identified and prosecuted.
Following the match, Amsterdam authorities detained 57 people after clashes erupted between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and police near the Johan Cruyff Arena. The city had previously banned protests around the stadium in an attempt to prevent violence.
Among those condemning the violence was Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who drew parallels between these attacks and historical antisemitic pogroms in Europe. Writing on social media, Herzog expressed horror at what he called an “antisemitic pogrom” against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam. He described the scenes as reminiscent of the initial attacks on October 7 and of past violent episodes targeting European Jews.
In response to the events, Israel’s military arranged for cargo planes carrying medical and rescue teams to travel to the Netherlands, coordinated with the Dutch government. Israel’s largest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, reported that some fans believed the attacks appeared to have been premeditated.
The latest clash in Amsterdam underscores the growing international tension sparked by the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The fighting has prompted demonstrations and incidents across Europe and the United States, with reports of attacks on both Jewish and Arab individuals. According to health officials in Gaza, more than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 102,000 injured since the conflict began. Meanwhile, Israel reports that the initial Hamas attack claimed 1,200 Israeli lives, with over 250 people still held hostage.
