AMSTERDAM (AGENCIES) – Tensions flared in Amsterdam following a Europa League match between Ajax and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, with clashes that resulted in 62 arrests on Thursday night. The Palestine Football Association (PFA) has highlighted how Israeli fans instigated the violence, pointing to incidents of anti-Palestinian rhetoric and provocations.
According to the PFA, the unrest began with “deplorable incitement to violence, anti-Palestinian racism, and Islamophobia expressed by Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters.” The association reported that Israeli fans targeted properties displaying the Palestinian flag, attacking homes and shops, and that these actions fueled further conflict. Despite providing extensive evidence to FIFA, the PFA stated it was still waiting for concrete action from the world football governing body.
Amsterdam’s police chief, Peter Holla, acknowledged that there were “incidents on both sides” leading up to the violence. He noted that Maccabi supporters had been involved in confrontational acts, such as removing a Palestinian flag from a building on the Rokin and destroying a taxi. Additionally, there were reports of a Palestinian flag being set on fire at Dam Square, the heart of Amsterdam.
Unverified social media footage purportedly showed Maccabi fans chanting inflammatory slogans, including, “Let the IDF win! We’ll f*** the Arabs!” The PFA condemned this behavior as incitement, reflecting deeper tensions exacerbated by ongoing regional conflict and rising anti-Palestinian sentiment.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence and announced measures to enhance security for Israeli sports fans abroad. However, Palestinian voices and their supporters argued that such statements overlooked the provocations that had contributed to the chaos.
A pro-Palestinian rally initially scheduled near the stadium was moved by city officials for security reasons, adding to frustrations among activists who aimed to express solidarity with Gaza civilians amid the ongoing conflict. The war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s subsequent military campaign, has led to significant loss of life, fueling tensions globally and intensifying divisions in communities far from the conflict zone. – AGENCIES
