November 10th 2024.
A planned protest in support of Palestine recently took a sudden turn when several individuals were arrested amidst a wave of football-related violence in Amsterdam. According to a local broadcaster, the protesters were taken into custody after participating in the demonstration, which had been prohibited by the city authorities. This all comes on the heels of a chaotic scene in Amsterdam where fans of an Israeli football club clashed with one another, and footage of the club's supporters chanting anti-Arab sentiments surfaced.
The chaos continued on Thursday night after a football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, where five people were hospitalized and 62 were arrested. The timing of the pro-Palestine protest seemed to be a direct response to the city's ban on all demonstrations. There is even footage of a wounded protester on Dam Square, further illustrating the severity of the situation. Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, stated that there were even reports of individuals on scooters purposely targeting others in what has been deemed as anti-Semitic attacks. As a result, all demonstrations have been prohibited for the weekend following the violence that occurred on Thursday and Friday, primarily aimed at Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.
Prior to the match, it was reported that some Maccabi supporters had ripped a Palestinian flag off a building in Amsterdam and were heard shouting anti-Arab slogans on their way to the stadium. It was also documented that there were fights among Maccabi fans themselves. In one video, a man can be seen crouching on the ground while pleading for mercy, as another person stands over him shouting, "free Palestine" and accusing him of wanting to harm innocent children.
As if the tension between the two groups wasn't already high enough, Ajax fans were outraged when Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters disrupted a minute of silence held in honor of the victims of a recent flood in Valencia. On Sunday, a man was arrested during a protest in Dam Square, where chants of "free Palestine" and "Amsterdam says no to genocide" could be heard. According to the AP, around 20 people were detained, and the Amsterdam Municipality announced that the police had begun arresting demonstrators who refused to leave the square.
Organizers of the protest attempted to obtain an injunction to allow the demonstration to take place, but the judge ultimately upheld the ban issued by the authorities. For the latest news updates on this ongoing situation, be sure to follow us at Metro and join our community on Whatsapp for breaking news and juicy stories. As of now, all protests have been prohibited until next Thursday, according to Sky News.
In light of recent events, an investigation has been launched after reports surfaced that gangs of youths had targeted Maccabi fans following alleged calls on social media to harm Jewish individuals. Senior Amsterdam police officer Olivier Dutilh stated that there had been incidents overnight involving people who were believed to be Jewish. Some were reportedly forced out of taxis, while others were asked to confirm their nationality by showing their passports. In response to these attacks, Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, met with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and issued a statement condemning the violence and the demands for people to show their passports, saying that they were "reminiscent of dark periods in history."
Amidst all of this chaos, the ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza have been thrown into question after Qatar, a key mediator, withdrew from negotiations. According to reports, the Qataris made the decision to withdraw due to the unwillingness of both Israel and Hamas to negotiate in good faith. This comes after a year-long military campaign launched by Israel in response to an attack by Hamas fighters and the kidnapping of British national Emily Damari, who is still being held captive in the Gaza strip.
The violence in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 43,500 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. The UN has reported that 70% of those killed were women and children, a statistic that Israel has disputed. The military campaign began after an attack by Hamas fighters in October of last year, which claimed the lives of 1,200 people and resulted in the kidnapping of approximately 250 hostages, including Emily Damari. As the situation continues to unfold, we will continue to provide updates on the latest developments. Stay tuned for more news from Metro.
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