CNN – Israeli soccer fans were attacked in a “serious incident of violence in Amsterdam” overnight into Friday, Israeli authorities said, with the government saying it was sending planes to evacuate affected citizens.
Hundreds of fans of Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team “were ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam” as they left the stadium following a Europa League game against Dutch side Ajax, the Israeli embassy to the United States said on social media platform X.
Social media video shared by the embassy showed what it said was violence against Maccabi fans.
Local police said 57 people had been held after the game as pro-Palestine demonstrators had tried to reach the Johan Cruyff stadium, even though the city had forbidden them to protest there, Reuters reported. Police said fans had left the stadium without incident, but during the night various clashes in the city center were reported.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said 10 citizens were injured, and advised Israelis in Amsterdam to stay in their hotels.
“The impression from the reports (are) that the situation is calming down in the last hour,” Sa’ar said.
In a statement from his office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the violence “serious” and said he was ordering the “immediate release of two rescue planes” to assist Israeli citizens.
Maccabi fans had been in the Dutch capital ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League game against Ajax which the local side won 5-0.
The police also said a demonstration was planned on Thursday near the stadium ahead of the soccer match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
