Israeli Fans Clash with Pro-Palestinian Supporters in Amsterdam, Sparking Outrage
Tensions soared in Amsterdam late Thursday when fans of Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv football club clashed with pro-Palestinian supporters, sparking violent confrontations throughout the city. The altercations, which involved vandalism, flag-burning, and assaults, unfolded before and after Maccabi’s match against Ajax. Widely shared footage showed Maccabi fans tearing down Palestinian flags from homes, clashing with bystanders, and damaging property, leading to dozens of detainments and a declaration of “risk zones” by local authorities. The clashes have drawn criticism from both sides, escalating concerns over rising tensions in European cities.
Violence erupted in Amsterdam late Thursday as supporters of Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv football club reportedly clashed with pro-Palestinian supporters, vandalizing property and tearing down Palestinian flags across the city. This unrest followed Maccabi’s match against Ajax and resulted in multiple injuries, detainments, and police-enforced “risk zones” to prevent further escalation.
“Israel will defeat the Arabs”
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) November 7, 2024
Maccabi fans call for the destruction of Arabs, supporting ethnic cleansing in Gaza, while being protected by the police in Amsterdam.
What are you going to do about this @UEFA? Will you allow such racist, discriminatory chants go unpunished? pic.twitter.com/ZCGFqxqaAK
Social media videos widely shared showed Maccabi fans damaging property, including burning a Palestinian flag, assaulting a taxi driver, and engaging in skirmishes with bystanders and law enforcement. Sports journalist Leyla Hamed highlighted the scale of the disruption, noting that Maccabi fans marched through the streets, stealing Palestinian flags from homes and setting them aflame. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned what he called “a very violent incident against Israeli citizens in Amsterdam,” deploying rescue planes to support Israelis on the ground.
Also Read: Ousted Israeli Security Minister Challenges Netanyahu on Gaza Troop Presence, Citing Lack of Security Justification
Following the clashes, 57 individuals were detained in Dam Square, many reportedly from the pro-Palestinian camp. Videos circulating online showed some detained individuals being asked to chant “Free Palestine” before being released.
Amid calls for de-escalation, Amsterdam’s Mayor Femke Halsema defended the decision to ban a nearby pro-Palestine demonstration to reduce potential clashes, while allowing Maccabi fans to attend the game. As the violence continued into early Friday, authorities declared specific areas as “risk zones” to allow stop-and-search operations to keep tensions from flaring further.