Dutch PM condemns "anti-Semitic attacks" in Amsterdam; "Very violent," says Israeli PM

Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he was “horrified” by violent clashes between pro-Palestine protesters and Israeli football supporters in Amsterdam on Thursday. He spoke of “anti-Semitic attacks on Israeli citizens” and called it “completely unacceptable,” in a post on X. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of “very violent” attacks on Israeli citizens.

“I have just spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone to stress that the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted. The situation in Amsterdam is now calm once more,” Schoof said.

Netanyahu called clashes between pro-Palestine protesters and Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in Amsterdam a “very violent incident” against Israeli citizens, Reuters reported. He said that the Israeli army was sending two planes with medical teams on board to Amsterdam to “help citizens,” though Schiphol Airport told NOS that no such flights had been arranged.

The riot police had to intervene in several clashes between pro-Palestine protesters and Israeli football supporters who came to Amsterdam for the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The police arrested 57 people. A spokesperson couldn’t tell NU.nl on Friday morning how many people got hurt.

AT5 reported that the riot police deployed multiple units and dogs on Dam Square to keep football supporters and protesters apart, but there were still several violent confrontations.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that ten Israelis got hurt and that the national security council urged Israelis to stay in their hotel rooms and not wear clothing that revealed them as Jewish or Israeli.

The run-up to the football match in the Johan Cruijff Arena was already grim. Several hundred pro-Palestine demonstrators had gathered near the stadium to protest against the presence of the Israeli club and fans. The police intervened when the demonstrators tried to get closer to the stadium and made several arrests.