According to his office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been briefed on a ‘violent incident’ against Israelis in Amsterdam.
Israel’s government Friday stated that it dispatched two rescue planes to Amsterdam to pick up its citizens who were injured in a bout of violence associated with a Europa League soccer match.
Both Israeli and Dutch authorities defined the event as an antisemitic act. At least five people were admitted in the hospital and 62 people were arrested, according to the police.
It was unclear what exactly led to the violence but videos which have not been independently verified on social media showed people charging through the streets of central Amsterdam and one man being assaulted.
The fans were celebrating after watching the home side Ajax defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv, an Israeli soccer club, 5-0 in the match.
Officials stated that the pro-Palestine protesters attempted to move towards the Johan Cruyff Stadium where the match was held despite the city’s ban on their demonstration.
The police added that the Israeli fans left the stadium after the game peacefully, but various clashes in the city center were recorded.
Police have stated that they had not confirmed a “possible hostage situation”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he “sees with the highest degree of severity the planned antisemitic attack against Israeli citizens and urged that security be provided for the Dutch Jewish community”.
He stated that he ordered the Israel military to use planes to evacuate those injured in the incident to Israel.
“Football enthusiasts who came to watch a match were exposed to anti-Semitism and received the cruelest beatings simply because of their Jewishness and Israeliness,” Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a post on X.
He called on any Israelis in the Dutch city to remain in their hotels after the attacks.
The situation has been tense in the Middle East and other parts of the world after the Palestinian militant group, Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and holding more than 250 of them hostage.
Hamas health officials in the enclave said that at least 43,469 Palestinians have been killed and 102,561 other Palestinians injured in the Israeli military operation on Gaza in retaliation for the attack.
There has been demonstrations for both the warring factions in Europe and United States and Arabs and Jews have been lynched.
The Prime Minister of Netherlands, Dick Schoof said in a statement that there have been attacks on Israelis in Amsterdam and anti Muslim politician Geert Wilders, the leader of the largest party in the Dutch government posted on X, saying, “Ashamed that this can happen in The Netherlands”.
It was total anathema to have such a policy, he wrote.
