Israeli Football Fans Attacked in Amsterdam, Say Officials

Police struggled to identify those involved, as many wore dark clothing.

Israeli football fans were attacked in central Amsterdam, requiring riot police to intervene multiple times, officials said. Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the "antisemitic attacks," while the Israeli military described the incidents as "severe and violent" against Israelis. Earlier plans to send "rescue planes" for Israelis were canceled.

Despite a substantial police presence, several Israeli fans were injured across the Dutch capital, according to Amsterdam’s mayor and local authorities. The attacks targeted supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv, who were in Amsterdam for a Europa League match against Ajax.

Schoof said he watched events unfold with horror, spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and promised to ensure "perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted." Police detained 57 people, reporting disturbances in Dam Square before the match involving Maccabi fans and pro-Palestinian demonstrators, with fireworks and clashes over a Palestinian flag.

The unrest continued after the game, with police noting the difficulty in identifying rioters, who were dressed in dark clothing. Videos circulated on social media showed disturbing scenes, including a man being beaten and another run over, while pro-Palestinian slogans were reportedly shouted in some footage.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders described the incidents as a "pogrom" against Maccabi fans and Israeli citizens. Wilders criticized authorities for failing to protect Israeli fans, calling for accountability.

To prevent escalation, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema had moved pro-Palestinian protesters away from the Johan Cruyff Arena, though reports said a large group still attempted to reach the stadium, only to be blocked by riot police.

Herzog expressed trust in Dutch authorities to "protect, locate, and rescue all Israelis and Jews under attack." Israeli officials advised citizens to stay in their hotels, while broadcaster Kan reported the foreign ministry had lost contact with three individuals.

U.S. Special Envoy on Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt condemned the attacks, calling them "terribly reminiscent of a classic pogrom." She also noted the violence's proximity to the anniversary of the Nazi pogrom in November 1938.