Israel tightens travel advice for Amsterdam, bans soldiers from coming to Netherlands
The Israeli government has tightened its travel advice for Amsterdam, advising citizens to return to Israel and not to show Israeli or Jewish symbols when going out on the street. The Israeli army has also banned soldiers from traveling to the Netherlands.
According to the Times of Israel, the tightened travel advice urges Israelis in Amsterdam to return to their country as soon as possible, adding that it was still possible to travel safely to the airport. Israelis who lost their passports during the violence on Thursday can board the plane without the document, the newspaper said.
Supporters of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv were attacked in several places in Amsterdam on Thursday after a match against Ajax. The police reported that five people were hospitalized and 62 arrested. NOS reported seven hospitalizations. The Amsterdam authorities will give a press conference with more information at noon.
After the incidents in Amsterdam, the Israeli military announced that it was banning soldiers from flying to the Netherlands until further notice. “Exceptional requests will be examined individually,” the army said, according to AD.
Israeli president Isaac Herzog spoke of an “anti-Semitic pogrom” in Amsterdam. “This is a serious incident, a warning sign for any country that wishes to uphold the values of freedom,” he said, adding he trusted the Dutch authorities to “rescue all Israelis and Jews under attack.”
