Israeli soccer fans were ambushed and brutally assaulted in Amsterdam overnight Thursday by a mob shouting “Free Palestine,” leading the Jewish state’s government to send planes to evacuate its citizens, officials said.
Hundreds of fans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer club were targeted as they walked out of the stadium following a Europa League game against a Dutch team, AFC Ajax, the Israeli Embassy to the United States said.
The embassy also shared footage of the attacks, including one assailant that screamed “Free Palestine” as a victim cowered in fear.
“The mob who targeted these innocent Israelis has proudly shared their violent acts on social media,” the embassy stated.
More disturbing video shows a victim surrounded by several people, including one that appears to be holding a Palestinian flag, as a preparator kicked him to the ground. A separate assault shows a victim lying on the ground as he is kicked repeatedly.
A car also barreled into a victim, causing the man to flip over the hood of the vehicle, footage from the embassy shows.
“Israeli soccer fans should be allowed to support their team without fear of physical danger,” the embassy stated. “The days of chasing Jews down European city streets should remain in the dark annals of history.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed two rescue planes to be flown to Amsterdam to assist Israeli citizens, his office said early Friday.
Netanyahu also called on the Dutch government and authorities to take “vigorous and swift action against the rioters, and ensure the safety of our citizens.”
“The harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked,” the prime minister’s office tweeted.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar requested the Dutch government help Israelis reach the airport safely in a phone call with his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp Friday.
Sa’ar said at least 10 citizens were injured, CNN reported.
“The targeted attacks against Jews and Israelis in Amsterdam tonight, are horrific and barbaric. The images of the violence toward Jewish people in Europe are a painful reminder of our history,” Israel Defense Forces international spokesperson Nadav Shoshani tweeted.
“The IDF has an historic duty of protecting our people, wherever they are. We are preparing to deploy a mission to rescue Israelis from Amsterdam.”
Antisemitism has skyrocketed since Hamas terrorists carried out a deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, leading to a wider and ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“Horrified by the attacks tonight in Amsterdam, which are terribly reminiscent of a classic pogrom. I am also deeply disturbed by how long the reported attacks lasted and call on the government to conduct a thorough investigation into security force intervention and on how these despicable attacks transpired,” Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, of the US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, said in a statement.
“In terrible historical irony, this is happening two days before the grim anniversary of Reichspogromnacht in 1938, when Nazi-sanctioned and led pogroms against Jews erupted across the German Reich.”
With Post wires
