Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv faced attacks in Amsterdam after a football match against Ajax, leading to significant unrest in the city. Dutch authorities reported detaining 57 people tied to violence following the game.

While the incidents were partly linked to football rivalry, Israeli officials and some observers have labeled the attacks antisemitic, reflecting a rising concern over fan safety.

Unverified social media videos display scenes of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being chased and, in some cases, assaulted with knives, causing many to jump into Amsterdam’s canals or seek safety in nearby shops.

In response to the attacks, Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, coordinated emergency assistance, sending planes to evacuate Israeli citizens.

The violence followed a tense atmosphere around the game. Amsterdam police reported earlier arrests due to public disorder at gathering spots for both fans and protesters, who opposed the Israeli team’s presence.

A pro-Palestinian group had planned a protest at the stadium, but Mayor Femke Halsema redirected them to a different location. Even then, confrontations arose, with protestors allegedly setting off fireworks and clashing with military police.

Israeli and Dutch Responses

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed 10 injuries among Israeli fans, with two citizens still unaccounted for.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged Dutch authorities to protect those under attack, while Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called for a full investigation.

Amsterdam authorities, however, have not publicly attributed the violence to antisemitism but acknowledged heightened security around the event.

The incidents prompted strong international reactions, with Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, describing the attacks as a “pogrom,” urging a wake-up call to Western nations about the dangers of radicalism.