On November 10, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the center of the Dutch capital, chanting "Freedom for Palestine" and "Amsterdam says no to genocide." This was yet another protest against the events in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have been conducting a major operation against the radical Palestinian group Hamas since October 2023. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU. Israel denies the allegations of genocide.
After a local court upheld the city council's temporary ban on street protests, police urged those gathered at Dam Square to disperse, resulting in the detention of over a hundred individuals.
The ban on demonstrations was implemented on Friday in response to violence against Israeli football fans following a match between the clubs Maccabi (Tel Aviv) and Ajax in the Europa League on Thursday. Some assailants carried Palestinian flags and shouted "Freedom for Palestine" in Arabic and Turkish. At least five people were hospitalized due to the attacks, which have been condemned by the Dutch authorities and several world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as anti-Semitic. More than 60 individuals were detained.
Meanwhile, media reports indicate that some incidents occurred even before the Maccabi and Ajax game. In particular, DPA reported that Israeli fans shouted anti-Arab slogans before the match. Associated Press reports that they removed a Palestinian flag from one of the buildings prior to the game.
On Sunday, Israeli authorities urged citizens to avoid attending cultural and sporting events abroad involving Israelis in the coming week. Netanyahu's office stated that pro-Palestinian groups intend to harm Israelis in the Netherlands, the UK, France, Belgium, and several other countries. Earlier, Israel organized flights to evacuate its citizens from Amsterdam. According to the latest reports, around two thousand people have been brought back to their homeland.
The office of French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the head of state will join fans at the Stade de France in Paris on November 14, when the French and Israeli national teams play. Macron's decision aims to convey "a message of brotherhood and solidarity following the unacceptable acts of anti-Semitism that followed the match in Amsterdam," said Macron's office.