Israel dispatched planes to pick up citizens in the Netherlands after dozens of Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. fans were attacked in Amsterdam.
Dutch authorities responded to widespread reports of violence against Israelis on Thursday before and after a soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. and the Dutch team AFC Ajax.
“The police have launched a major investigation into multiple violent incidents,” Amsterdam police announced Friday morning. “So far, it is known that five people have been taken to the hospital and 62 individuals have been arrested.”
No disruptions occurred at the game itself but reports of attacks began before kickoff and lasted for several hours.
The timeline of events is not yet clear, but the violence appears to be at least partially based in political tensions regarding Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Amsterdam police reported that many of the attackers chanted anti-Israeli slogans during the violence.
A video verified by the New York Times shows a group of men ripping down a Palestinian flag hanging on the front of a building. Maccabi fans were recorded chanting “Ole, ole, let the IDF win, we will f–k the Arabs,” according to Reuters.
Israeli airline El Al dispatched civilian planes to pick up Israeli citizens Saturday and bring them home. The Israel Defense Forces initially intended to oversee the repatriation via military aircraft but the operation was deemed unnecessary.
The King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander reached out to Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the aftermath of the attacks to express regret.
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“I told [Herzog] how shocked my wide and I were by the violence against Israeli supporters who are guests in our country,” the king said in a statement Friday morning. “We must not look away from antisemitic behavior on our streets.”
The monarch continued, “History has taught us how intimidation goes from bad to worse, with horrific consequences. Jewish people must feel safe in the Netherlands, everywhere and at all times. We embrace them all and hold them close.”
