Violence characterized Amsterdam‘s streets before and after the match in which Maccabi Tel Aviv FC was competing for Israeli soccer fans in their tie with Ajax on Thursday. In social media with viral videos showing chaotic street scenes, several clashes have been reported between the fans. The Israeli authorities report as many as ten Israelis inured and contact with two individuals is lost.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon: we take this incident very seriously. It is a pogrom against Jews in Europe and Dutch authorities should take swift and decisive steps against all attackers. Protests are underway amid heightened tensions as anti-Israel protestors announced they would demonstrate near the stadium.
The Dutch police had arrested more than 30 over the disturbances. Mostly, the provokers were dressed in dark clothes, and many were vague about groups since the information was concealed with dark garments. Israeli fans cited being ambushed all over the city with attackers reportedly asking people where they came from before attacking them depending on perceived origin.
The former Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett condemned the violence and followed calls to increase security measures for Israeli fans abroad. Ever since the incident, the Israeli government has arranged two flights to send the fans back home safely.
The violence underlines the difficulties involved in hosting international sporting events in times of political tensions and still-existent regional conflicts. Incidents like this again put pressure on the international authorities to ensure the safety of fans coming into the country and avoid scenarios such as this one in the future.
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