Fans of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Israel after a night of violence in Amsterdam, where street clashes broke out following a Europa League match against Ajax. The violent events, which left at least 24 people dead and around 50 others injured, were widely condemned by both Israeli and Dutch officials. The violence, which included attacks on Israeli supporters by individuals with anti-Semitic motives, sparked outrage and resulted in multiple arrests. The Dutch police arrested 62 people in connection with the violence, and Israeli authorities quickly mobilized flights to bring the fans back to Israel.
The confrontation occurred on the night of November 8, 2024, after the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. The violence unfolded across Amsterdam as a group of individuals targeted Israeli supporters. The attackers, on scooters, engaged in hit-and-run assaults, leaving several fans severely injured. One of the most striking features of the violence was the explicitly anti-Semitic nature of the attacks. Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, strongly condemned the rioters, calling the violence an “outburst of anti-Semitism” and expressing shame over the events. Local authorities struggled to prevent the assaults despite a strong police presence at the stadium.
A fan named Amit Ganor, who was caught up in the chaos, shared his experience of being attacked while trying to make his way from the railway station to his hotel. He said that the attacks appeared to be fueled by hate towards Jews, with no clear provocation other than their nationality. He described the scene as frightening, with many of the victims unable to escape the attackers. This is just one instance in a series of violent clashes linked to the growing tensions between supporters of different groups in Europe, as the conflict in Gaza continues to fuel animosity.
The violence also prompted a sharp response from Israel’s government. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the country’s Mossad intelligence agency to formulate a plan to prevent similar incidents in the future. He stressed the importance of protecting citizens and preventing further harm to supporters traveling abroad. The Israeli government also issued warnings urging its citizens in Amsterdam to remain cautious and avoid displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols while in public.
While the violence in Amsterdam targeted Israeli fans, there was also a counter-narrative from some Palestinian groups. The Palestine Football Association (PFA) claimed that the incidents started due to anti-Palestinian actions by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. They pointed to reports of Israeli supporters attacking Palestinian properties and desecrating Palestinian symbols in the city before the match. Amsterdam’s police chief corroborated this, acknowledging that there had been “incidents on both sides,” referring to Israeli fans allegedly removing Palestinian flags and causing destruction in the city. The PFA also highlighted instances of inflammatory chants reportedly made by Maccabi supporters, which further fueled the violence.
Despite the assertions of some Palestinian organizations, the overwhelming response to the attacks was one of condemnation for the anti-Semitic violence. World leaders, including European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden, voiced their outrage over the incidents. Biden called the attacks “despicable” and likened them to darker chapters of history when Jews were persecuted. Similarly, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his shock at the violence and condemned all forms of bigotry, including anti-Semitism.
The attacks on Israeli fans in Amsterdam reflect broader geopolitical tensions that have been inflaming violence across Europe. The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated in October 2023, has led to a dramatic increase in anti-Semitic incidents globally. The spike in violence follows the brutal October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has led to over 43,000 deaths, primarily among Palestinian civilians. These events have not only affected the region but have also spilled over into international spaces, as demonstrated by the violence in Amsterdam and similar incidents elsewhere in Europe.
The violence has become a flashpoint for increasing ethnic and religious tensions, with both sides of the political spectrum accusing each other of inflaming the situation. Football fans have become unwitting participants in the fallout from this conflict, with rivalries taking on a more dangerous tone. In some cases, like the incident in Amsterdam, fans have been subjected to physical attacks motivated by hatred rather than the sport they came to enjoy.
The situation has prompted calls for better security measures at sporting events and for international governing bodies such as FIFA to take a stronger stance against violence and discrimination at matches. The Football Association of Palestine has called for FIFA to take action against Israeli fans who engage in violent behavior, although the global body has yet to release a concrete response to these demands.
The ongoing violence and tensions also coincide with growing pro-Palestinian rallies and anti-Israel protests around the world. These protests have often turned violent, with clashes between protesters and police or between different factions of protesters. In some cases, such as the events in Amsterdam, the violence has been directed specifically at Jews, rather than at political figures or military entities. The spike in anti-Semitic incidents has sparked concerns across Europe and North America, where Jewish communities have reported feeling increasingly vulnerable to attacks.
With tensions running high, future football events involving Israeli teams are likely to remain under intense scrutiny. For example, Israel’s national basketball team was scheduled to play against Italy in Bologna, but there were concerns about potential attacks or protests. The Israeli government warned its citizens not to attend the match, citing social media calls to harm Israelis and Jews. However, the basketball match went ahead without incident, in part due to heightened security measures.
In the wake of the Amsterdam violence, there are calls for broader international efforts to combat anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in public spaces, including at sporting events. The European Union and the United Nations have pledged to intensify their efforts to curb hate speech and hate-driven violence. However, as the conflict in Gaza continues and political tensions escalate, it is likely that the situation will remain volatile, with sports events and international diplomacy caught in the crossfire of these global conflicts.
This recent incident in Amsterdam highlights how global conflicts can manifest in violence at sporting events, where fans, often just seeking to support their teams, become casualties of larger political struggles. The issue of anti-Semitism, in particular, has raised alarms about the safety of Jewish communities abroad and the need for stronger international mechanisms to prevent such attacks. As tensions continue to simmer, it is clear that the world of sports will be closely watched as a reflection of larger societal issues.
(Source: AFP, November 2024)
