Israeli football fans attacked by pro-Palestine mob in Amsterdam

From the Times of Israel and The Telegraph. Photograph from CNN

Israeli football fans were kicked and beaten on the streets of Amsterdam on Thursday night by a pro-Palestine mob shouting “now you know how it feels”.

At least 57 people were arrested and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, took the extraordinary step of sending two “rescue planes” to evacuate Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters who were in The Netherlands to watch their team play rivals AFC Ajax.

Israeli airline El Al announces that it will operate rescue flights from the Netherlands to Israel on Friday evening and Shabbat following the overnight attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam.

The airline does not usually operate on Saturdays, in line with traditional Jewish religious law.

The flights will be free of charge for all passengers who had booked a return ticket from Amsterdam to Israel with El Al and all other airlines, the flag carrier says. The first flight will depart from Amsterdam at 2 p.m. local time and arrive back in Israel on Friday evening…

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel has instructed the Population and Immigration Authority to allow Israelis in Amsterdam who have lost their passports to board flights using other travel documents or photocopies of their passports. He also instructed the agency to continue working over Shabbat as Israel works to locate three Israelis who remain unaccounted for following the overnight attacks against Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer fans.

Mr Netanyahu’s office said of the “horrific incident” in Amsterdam: “The Prime Minister demands that the Dutch government and the Dutch security forces act decisively and quickly against the rioters and ensure the peace of our citizens.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he had spoken to Mr Netanyahu and assured him the perpetrators would be found and prosecuted.

“I followed the news from Amsterdam with horror,” Mr Schoof posted on X. “Completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis.”

In one of the distressing videos, a man is motionless on the ground as other people repeatedly kick his body. Another appears to show a car hitting a pedestrian. While men are being beaten in a busy street, a man can be heard in one video shouting “that’s Gaza mother f—er… now you know how it feels”.

Israeli media reported that victims were hiding in hotel rooms under guard after the “lynching” while the country’s embassy in the US claimed “hundreds” had been “ambushed and attacked” while walking back to their hotels from the stadium.

“The mob who targeted these innocent Israelis has proudly shared their violent acts on social media,” a post from the embassy read.

There had been a heavy police presence in the city ahead of two major football matches coinciding with a week of Free Palestine demonstrations, and Dutch authorities had named a number of likely trouble spots including the Dam Square.

Ajax supporters had openly said they would challenge any of the Week 4 Palestine participants who marched near Johan Cruiijff Arena, prompting police to order the protesters to stay clear of the area.

Officers warned members of the Ajax hooligans group F-side that they must not confront the demonstrators.

I hope the fans unaccounted for are safe and well in a quiet place. I understand that once attacked some Maccabee fans were capable of self defence which is heartening.