A sporting event transformed into a scene of strife in Amsterdam as tensions escalated around a football match between teams from Israel and Netherlands last Thursday. City officials took the decision to prohibit protests over the ensuing weekend through an emergency ordinance, having recorded incidents of antisemitic violence targeting Israeli football fans over the course of the week. Changes imposed in the ordinance included a ban on the use of face masks or coverings, heightened security protection for Jewish establishments, and authorizing the police to conduct stop-and-search operations.
The chaos played out over several days, rooted in a football match between the Dutch team Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv from Israel. The atmosphere had grown contentious a day before the match: a taxi was defaced and a Palestinian flag was set ablaze by Israeli football fans in Amsterdam. In the aftermath of the match, some individuals on scooters targeted Israeli fans with physical violence, leading to multiple hospitalizations.
Law enforcement in Amsterdam arrested 62 persons associated with the unrest initially. By the time the weekend arrived, the majority were released, leaving four individuals in custody. Tensions were already brewing within the city prior to the highly anticipated match on Thursday. There were plans for pro-Palestinian protests in alignment with the day of the match, which apparently added to the growing unrest.
However, Amsterdam’s chief municipal executive took proactive steps and banned protests in the vicinity of the stadium on the prior day, Wednesday, aiming to prevent potential violence. Videos from Thursday captured Israeli fans voicing anti-Arab slogans as they were shepherded towards the match by police, stationed near Amsterdam’s central rail station for security reinforcement.
A massive police force of 800 officers was tasked with ensuring order during the game. At the host venue, both riot police and mounted personnel were deployed to avert encounters between pro-Palestinian groups and Israeli football fans. Despite the match proceeding without major incidents, confrontations did occur in and around the city’s central area.
The Dutch police reported that unnamed assailants on scooters had reportedly assaulted Israeli fans in hit-and-run encounters while some others launched fireworks at them on the incident-filled Thursday. The police revealed that five Israeli individuals were admitted to hospitals due to sustained injuries, and later discharged. A further 20 to 30 persons had minor injuries reported.
The Mayor of Amsterdam, at a news conference on Friday, highlighted the role of social media in fueling the attacks. Authorities pointed out the quick proliferation of instigation via groups on the Telegram platform, a communication tool that had been implicated in the coordination of recent riots in the United Kingdom and setting migrant housing ablaze in Ireland.
Further acknowledging the situation, Telegram has previously stated its commitment to enhancing its features and refining the moderation of content. Amidst this turmoil, Thursday also marked the 86th observation of Kristallnacht – the infamous night in 1938 where Nazi soldiers orchestrated mass looting, torching, and arrests against the Jews in Germany.
Considering the significance of the date, the Mayor had expressed concerns over escalating tensions, as confirmed by her representative on Saturday. However, according to the national counter-terrorism entity, the threat level remained unchanged as they couldn’t identify any specific or heightened threats.
In response to the violence, the Israeli government went on record warning their citizens visiting Amsterdam to maintain a low profile for safety reasons, advising against going out into the city and discourage displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols. Extra measures were also taken to secure safe return of its citizens by arranging flights.