Attack on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam just latest in rising incidents of antisemitism in Europe

At least five soccer fans were hospitalized and dozens more were arrested after what appeared to be “systematic” attacks on Israeli soccer fans in The Netherlands, the latest and largest anti-Sematic clash in Europe since the Hamas attacks on Israel last year.

The attacks came after a Europa League match Thursday between Dutch soccer team Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, an Israeli squad. Dutch law enforcement on Friday opened an investigation into the attacks, which they said appeared to be “coordinated” and “systematic.”

The violence appears to be part of a rising tide of pro-Palestine and anti-Israel sentiment in Europe over the last year.

Thursday’s attacks were immediately condemned by political leaders in both countries, with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof saying he was “ashamed” of the events that transpired after the match and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling Dutch officials to provide more security for Israelis until they could be evacuated. 

Israel’s armed forces on Friday dispatched rescue planes to Amsterdam to return Israeli fans home safely.

The BBC, the U.K. state broadcaster, quoted 24-year-old Israeli fan Adi Reuben, who said he was kicked to the ground as he returned to his hotel after the match. “They shouted ‘Jewish, Jewish, IDF, IDF,” Reuben reportedly said, referring to the initials used to refer to the Israeli Defense Forces. 

The Jerusalem Post on Friday reported from what the publication said was a classified report from before the attacks indicating “anti-Israeli sentiment in The Netherlands … spiraling out of control.”

Some commentators noted that Saturday was the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the start of the pre-World War II pogrom against Jews in Nazi Germany. 

“If you still think the anti-Israel protests are because of Gaza, think again,” Israeli diplomat Elad Strohmayer tweeted along with a video of the violence. “Anti-Semitism is alive and kicking.”

His comment suggests hostility and prejudice against Jews worldwide started long before the establishment of the Gaza Strip, a small territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea inhabited mostly by Palestinians and under Israel occupation, or Israel's war on Hamas that followed the the Palestinian-backed group's Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel. 

The situation in Amsterdam is not unique, though such attacks in The Netherlands have reportedly increased more than in most countries. 

Even before the latest developments, the European Commission reported that anti-Semitism in Europe had increased dramatically since the Hamas attack in southern Israel. Israel responded to the initial attack with its own strikes against Gaza on Israel’s southern border, expanding to clashes with Hezbollah rebels to Israel’s north. 

The commission’s report said that in France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish population, anti-sematic attacks had tripled since last year, while they had quadrupled in Austria, and increased by eight-fold. 

Last month, a match between the Italian national team and Isreal took place amid dramatically increased security, including rooftop snipers and nearly a thousand police officers on the streets. There was an anti-Israeli protest near the stadium earlier on game day, but the match took place without incident. 

Alax won Thursday’s match against Maccabi Tel Aviv 5-0. In the Europa league standings, Alax is in second place among 36 teams in the Europa League standings with three wins and a tie in four games, while Maccabi Tel Aviv is tied for last with four losses in as many matches. 

In the aftermath of the attacks on the Israeli soccer fans, Amsterdam banned demonstrations effectivey through the weekend. 

The attacks were likely pre-planned and organized in a Telegram group, according to the Dutch newspaper.

Although Israel is in the Middle East, its sports teams play in European champion’s leagues and national team qualifying tournaments because teams from some Muslim countries historically refused to play against the Israelis.