Amsterdam, clashes between Israeli and Dutch fans. For EU leaders, “vile attacks” of anti-Semitism

Brussels – An evening of soccer resulting in violence between fans. A dynamic unfortunately seen over and over, only this time there are much bigger issues involved than boorish antagonism between different colours: the clashes between Israeli and Dutch fans in Amsterdam speak of the Middle East and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. “Vile attacks” of anti-Semitism, called them the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Last night (Nov. 7), the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv was scheduled in Amsterdam. For the match, hundreds of Israeli fans had already arrived in the city since the day before. The violence, which erupted after the triple whistle that decreed the 5-0 victory for the Dutch Lancers, was the result of a day of rising tensions: in the afternoon, as a pro-Palestinian march paraded through the city streets, some Maccabi Tel Aviv fans sang offensive chants against Palestinians. Some of them also reportedly removed and burned a Palestinian flag hanging from a balcony, according to Dutch law enforcement officials.

At the end of the match, once they left the Johan Cruijff Arena, fans of the visiting team were physically assaulted and became the target of firecrackers and fireworks. According to local media reports, outside the stadium and in the city centre, a real hunt for the Israeli fan was triggered. At the moment, there are reportedly at least five people transported to the hospital and 62 arrests made, with law enforcement intervening on several occasions to quell the clashes and escort the Israeli fans back to their hotels. Amsterdam police had to issue a statement to shed light on the numbers and dynamics and refute some of the reconstructions circulating on social media: “We are aware of reports regarding a possible hostage situation and missing persons, but at the moment, there is no confirmation that this happened. This is also under investigation,” the Dutch police specified.

At a press conference convened in the morning, the mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, spoke reportedly of “boys on scooters riding through the city looking for Israeli fans.” A “dark night,” the mayor called it, adding, “Our city is deeply damaged. Jewish culture is deeply threatened. This is an outbreak of anti-Semitism that I hope never to see again.”

While Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu immediately activated the crisis unit and organized two special planes to bring Maccabi Tel Aviv fans back home, the Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof, in Budapest for the informal EU summit, announced that he will discuss with counterparts from the 27 the “absolutely outrageous and abominable anti-Semitic attacks last night against Israeli citizens in Amsterdam.” In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen—also in Budapest—said she had been in talks with Schoof and was “outraged by the vile attacks.” The EU leader, as well as the outgoing President of the European Council, Charles Michel, “strongly condemned” the “unacceptable and reprehensible” attacks in Amsterdam. “Antisemitism has absolutely no place in Europe,” von der Leyen concluded.