Israel will not send special rescue planes to pick up Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in Amsterdam. Israeli football fans will simply return home on regular flights.
This is reported by the news site The Times of Israel based on the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After political consultations, it was decided that Israelis should return home on regular flights.
In Amsterdam, after the football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, several violent incidents took place. These were aimed at supporters of the Israeli club. Several fans were injured, reports Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema in a message on Instagram.
Five wounded people were taken to hospital, police said. Sixty-two people were arrested. Police also said they were aware of reports of a possible hostage situation and missing Israelis, but “currently have no confirmation that this has actually happened.”
Halsema: ‘No excuse for anti-Semitism’
The Amsterdam triangle, which consists of the mayor, the police and the judiciary, reports that “this outburst of violence against Israeli supporters goes beyond all limits and is in no way defensible”. “There is no excuse for the anti-Semitic behavior displayed last night by rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and abuse them.”
The statement from the triangle states that supporters were attacked, abused and pelted with fireworks in several places in the city. The riot police intervened several times and protected Israeli supporters and escorted them to hotels, the triangle reports. “Despite the massive police deployment in the city, Israeli supporters were injured. The extent of incidents, victims and arrests is now being mapped out.”
Amsterdam calls on victims to file a complaint
The Amsterdam Triangle is in contact with, among others, the Dutch cabinet, the Israeli embassy and the Jewish community in Amsterdam. According to the Triangle, the Jewish community in the capital is very concerned about the situation.
The triangle calls on victims to report to the police and file a report. “Both Israeli visitors and the Jewish community must feel safe in Amsterdam.” In the coming days, extra police will be on the ground to monitor and “control” the situation, the triangle says. “In addition, there is extra attention for the extra security of Jewish institutions and objects.”
At a press conference at 12:30, the triangle will announce additional measures.
Israeli military bans soldiers from traveling to the Netherlands
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has temporarily banned all military personnel from traveling to the Netherlands. The military initially planned to send two rescue planes to the Netherlands to pick up Israelis, but that decision was reversed.
The IDF did not give a specific reason for the measure, but said it was a political decision. “Extraordinary requests will be considered individually,” the statement on X said.
The fact that there are no more military flights to the Netherlands to pick up Israelis means that they have to use regular commercial flights.
