November 8th 2024.
The streets of Amsterdam were filled with chaos and violence last Thursday night as Dutch police were deployed to try and contain the escalating situation. It all began when Israeli football supporters were viciously attacked in the heart of the city. In response, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, ordered two rescue planes to be sent to the Netherlands to help bring his citizens back home safely.
The tension had been building up in Amsterdam throughout the day as 3,000 Maccabi Tel Aviv fans descended upon the city for their Europa League match against Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena. With emotions running high, Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, had wisely banned a planned pro-Palestine demonstration near the stadium in an effort to prevent any potential violence.
The previous night, a video had surfaced of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans cheering as a large Palestinian flag was taken down from a building in the city center. This had caused outrage and sparked anger among the pro-Palestine community. And to make matters worse, there were reports of clashes between fans and taxi drivers. Needless to say, the atmosphere was tense and volatile.
One person who had attended the pro-Palestine demonstration before the police intervened, spoke to Dutch broadcaster AT5 and expressed their anger over the video. They believed that it had provoked the violent response from the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. As the game got underway, tensions were high and it didn't take much for things to spiral out of control.
During a moment of silence held in memory of the victims of the recent flood in Valencia, Maccabi Tel Aviv's supporters whistled, further angering the Ajax fans inside the stadium. After the match, Dutch police escorted the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to buses and train stations, but videos began to emerge on social media showing isolated Israelis being attacked on the streets.
In one particular video, a man can be seen cowering on the ground, pleading for mercy as someone stands over him shouting about freeing Palestine and accusing him of wanting to kill children. In another video, a man is lying motionless on the pavement as he is kicked by two different people. These scenes were shocking and disturbing, to say the least.
A 30-year-old Maccabi Tel Aviv supporter, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed their fear and desperation as they claimed that the police had abandoned them. They believed that every fourth person on the streets was a Muslim looking to attack Jews. They, along with several hundred other fans, were trapped in their hotel, unable to leave and feeling unsafe.
Meanwhile, a pro-Palestine demonstration was broken up by riot police before the match even began. In response to the violence, Netanyahu's office released a statement confirming the dispatch of two passenger planes to Amsterdam to bring the Israelis home. The statement also condemned the rioters and demanded swift action from the Dutch government to ensure the safety of their citizens.
As the planes made their way to Amsterdam, the situation on the ground remained tense. Metro, a local news outlet, reported that 57 arrests had been made before the match had even ended. But according to a police spokesperson, it was difficult to determine who the rioters belonged to, as they all looked the same in their chaotic state.
The violence and chaos in Amsterdam had not gone unnoticed by the international community. Israel's incoming Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, took to social media to urge any Israelis or Jews in distress to contact the emergency hotline. Similarly, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, spoke out against the violence, calling it a pogrom and urging the UN to condemn the actions of the Palestinians and their supporters.
It was a harrowing night for all involved, and it was a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions and conflicts in the world. As the planes landed in Amsterdam and the Israeli citizens were brought home safely, the hope was that the Dutch authorities would take decisive action against the violence and bring an end to the chaos on their streets.
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