A Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam descended into violence following provocative actions by Israeli football fans, sparking international outrage and raising concerns about anti-Palestinian sentiment. Over 200 Maccabi supporters, some reportedly with ties to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), engaged in disruptive behavior on Wednesday and Thursday, including tearing down Palestinian flags and chanting racist slogans such as “Let IDF win to F*#k Arabs” and “There are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left.”
Videos of these actions quickly circulated on social media, escalating tensions with pro-Palestinian groups. Palestinian authorities and NGOs report approximately 17,000 children have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, representing 44% of casualties.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema preemptively relocated a pro-Palestinian demonstration away from the stadium to mitigate potential clashes. However, Israeli fans reportedly continued to gather in Dam Square, leading to confrontations with locals. Dutch media, including AD and Al Jazeera, reported the fans lighting flares, chanting anti-Arab hate speech, and disrespecting a moment of silence for flood victims in Spain.
Following Ajax’s 5-0 victory, physical altercations broke out, resulting in injuries on both sides. Dutch police arrested 57 individuals, while the Israeli Foreign Ministry reported 10 injured and two missing Israelis.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (Not Dick Schoof) condemned the violence, characterizing it as “antisemitic attacks” and assuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Dutch support and intentions to prosecute those involved. This characterization drew criticism, with human rights advocates like Nicholas McGeehan of FairSquare arguing that portraying the Israeli fans as solely victims misrepresents the situation and ignores a history of violent behavior by Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters. McGeehan called on UEFA to sanction the Israel Football Association.
The Israeli government’s response included initial plans for “rescue planes” for the fans, which were later cancelled. Worryingly, right-wing Israeli social media channels subsequently urged Israelis in Amsterdam to “burn down mosques” and incite further violence.
Local pro-Palestinian groups in Amsterdam mobilized peacefully in response to the provocations, according to resident Mo Kotesh. However, some Dutch right-wing politicians, notably Geert Wilders, echoed Rutte’s framing of the events as solely antisemitic attacks.
The incident has intensified the international debate surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict and put pressure on UEFA and other European organizations to address hate speech and violence within football fan groups. Critics argue that a failure to sanction such behavior creates a climate of impunity. The events in Amsterdam underscore the challenges faced by European authorities in balancing freedom of speech with public safety and highlight the responsibility of sporting bodies like UEFA in combating hate within the realm of sports. The situation remains tense in Amsterdam as authorities increase security measures.