Emergency measures were imposed on Amsterdam as political tensions exploded. The Daily Star now looks at how a football match descended into city-wide chaos.
Violence kicked off at outside the Johan Cruyff Arena last night, Thursday November 8, before spilling out across the Dutch capital.
Amsterdam police made over 60 arrests and the Israeli government flew in rescue planes for Israeli nationals as a Europa League football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax spiralled into a violent clash. At the crux of the conflict was divided views on Israel’s war with Palestine.
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Al Jazeera reports the clashes were triggered by tension which had been brewing for a few days. Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters and pro-Palestinian supporters held their own gatherings in the lead up to the match.
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
On the ground reporter Step Vaessen said: “Hundreds of supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv came to Amsterdam, held a very vocal rally in the main square before the incident, waving Israeli flags, and also took down a Palestinian flag.”
Dutch police were alert to the potential clash, sharing on social media they were being extra vigilant as a result of politically motivated incidents.
According to Amsterdam city council member Councilman Jazie Veldhuyzen, Maccabi fans attacked the Dutch before kick off.
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Veldhuyzen told Al Jazeera: “They began attacking houses of people in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags, so that’s actually where the violence started. As a reaction, Amsterdammers mobilised themselves and countered the attacks that started on Wednesday by the Maccabi hooligans.”
Shocking footage shows appalling behaviour from both camps. Videos shared on X show scores of Maccabi fans chanting “Let the IDF [Israeli Defence Force) win to f***the Arabs” and “f*** Palestine” before the game, as well as fans removing Palestinian flags.
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
There are also reports that a Palestinian flag was torched and that Maccabi supporters destroyed a taxi.
One Amsterdam Palestinian activist said Maccabi “hooligans” chanted “there are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left”.
Among wild scenes of rioting and thuggery, footage shows Palestine supporters beating up Maccabi fans, telling them that “this is for the children mother f*****”.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsemas said men on scooters hunted down Maccabi supporters for hit and run-style strikes.
(Image: AP)
Amsterdam police report five people were taken to hospital with injuries as a result of the brawl and issued a statement describing the evening as “very turbulent with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters”.
“In several places in the city, supporters were attacked,” it added. “The police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels. Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli supporters have been injured.”
As mayor Halsema placed Amsterdam under emergency measures, she contemned the attacks.
She said: “This is a very dark moment for the city, for which I am deeply ashamed. Antisemitic criminals attacked and assaulted visitors to our city, in hit-and-run actions.”
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