On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on his Dutch counterpart to increase security for Israelis following an attack on Maccabi Tel Aviv FC fans by anti-Israel protesters. In response, Israeli airline El Al is sending planes to Amsterdam on Shabbat to evacuate Israelis, after the Israeli Defense Forces decided against an immediate rescue mission.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported that up to 20 Israelis were injured, with seven still unaccounted for. Amsterdam Police confirmed that five people were hospitalized and 62 arrested amid a major investigation into the violence. Netanyahu, in a conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, emphasized the seriousness of the “premeditated attacks” and urged for heightened security measures.
Israel has also increased phone lines at its embassy and the Foreign Ministry’s situation room. Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attacks, comparing them to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in southern Israel. Herzog described the events as an antisemitic pogrom against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in Amsterdam.
Reports indicated that some Maccabi fans chanted anti-Arab slogans before the game. Verified social media videos showed fans setting off flares and chanting offensive slogans referencing the Israel Defense Forces. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned these actions, highlighting the desecration of Palestinian flags and other hostile acts.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof labeled the anti-Semitic attacks on Israeli fans as “unacceptable” and vowed to prosecute the perpetrators. Social media footage showed multiple street fights outside the stadium where Maccabi Tel Aviv FC played Ajax. Spanish media had earlier reported planned protests by anti-Israel agitators targeting the Israeli soccer club and its supporters.
Dutch political leader Geert Wilders of the Freedom Party condemned the attacks, likening the situation to Gaza and criticizing the authorities for failing to protect Israeli citizens. The IDF has barred soldiers from traveling to Amsterdam, with exceptions considered on a case-by-case basis.