Israel decries ‘pogrom’ in Amsterdam as soccer fans come under attack by rioters

Israeli soccer fans came under an apparently organized, widespread attack by anti-Israel rioters in Amsterdam Thursday night following a match. Dutch security forces appeared helpless to protect the tourists as they were ambushed by gangs of masked assailants who shouted pro-Palestiniian slogans as they hunted, beat and harassed the Israelis.

Israeli officials said 10 citizens were injured. Up to 10 people were at one point out of contact with their families, but by 3 p.m. Friday all were accounted for following the hours of overnight violence, apparently perpetrated largely by local Muslims and Arabs. Hundreds more people huddled in their hotels for hours, fearing they could be attacked again when trying to reach their flights home.

The leaders of Israel and the Netherlands condemned what they called antisemitic attacks on the fans of soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv before and after the Europa League soccer match between their team and Ajax.

Dutch authorities said by morning that the situation had calmed down. Early on Friday morning, Israel’s Foreign Ministry advised all Israeli citizens not to leave their hotels as it worked with local authorities to ensure their safety. At 9 a.m. it put out updated instructions, saying local security forces had been deployed, and it was safe to head to the airport. At the same time, it said they should avoid displaying Israeli and Jewish symbols on the streets.

Amsterdam police said five people were hospitalized and released by the afternoon, and 62 were arrested. The police said that they had started a major investigation into multiple violent incidents. Officials denied rumors that some people had been taken hostage.

Amsterdam police said that “in several places in the city, [Maccabi] supporters were attacked. 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.”

The police added: This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way. There is no excuse for the antisemitic behavior exhibited last night by rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them.”

Footage from the scene screened on Israeli television included a video clip in which an assailant asked an Israeli where he was from and attacked him while shouting “Free Palestine.”

Some video footage on social media showed Israelis chanting against Arabs and Palestinians in the city, apparently prior to the riots, pointing to high tensions and unrest even before the nighttime attacks. Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activists claimed the Israeli fans were the first to engage in harassment and violence, although those claims were not verifiable. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that a Palestinian flag was ripped off a building in the center of the city. Riot police blocked pro-Palestinian supporters trying to march toward the Johan Cruyff Arena stadium where the match was being played.

Two Israelis who left Amsterdam on Friday morning and flew to London said to a Channel 12 reporter on arrival in the UK that they were attacked on Wednesday evening — a full day before the soccer game — by Arab gangs in the city.

The two, who gave their names as Oren And Or, said they were targeted as Israelis and beaten. They also said that they reported the attack to local police, who took no action.

A third Israeli, named Gal, said on arrival in London that he had been forced to the floor by assailants who had demanded to know if he was Israeli. He said he was beaten up by a gang of 8-10 people — “punched in the head; two teeth broken.” He said he “woke up in an ambulance covered in blood” and was told afterward that he was found in a pool of blood.