Amsterdam clashes: Netanyahu deploys flights to rescue Israelis
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Tel Aviv: After the clashes broke out in Amsterdam between pro-Palestinian protesters and fans of an Israeli football club, which injured many people, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered special flights to rescue Israeli citizens.
Earlier, the PM asked Israel fans at the clash spot to stay in hotels and later informed them that a special plane would be sent for them.
The clashes broke out in Amsterdam after Israeli football club fans shouted hate slogans at Palestinian supporters and tore up the Palestinian flag. Many people were injured in the clash between the two factions.
Fans of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv chanted anti-Palestinian slogans and tore up the Palestinian flag while leaving the stadium after the Europa League match against Dutch team Ajax on Thursday night.
Al Jazeera reported that it was the Israeli fans who instigated the violence after arriving in the city and attacking Palestinian supporters before the match. Quoting an Amsterdam city council member, Al Jazeera says that the Israeli fans started attacking houses of people in Amsterdam which bore Palestinian flags, which was what started the violence.
The council member, Jazie Veldhuyzen, said that Amsterdammers mobilized themselves against the attack, which was started on Wednesday by the “Maccabi hooligans”.
Veldhuyzen further said that though police acted as what the city mayor claimed, but at the right moments. The police acted only to protect the Maccabi hooligans when the Amsterdammers stood up to defend their own people and houses. Police showed up to protect the Israeli fans when they ran away after attacking locals, the councilman said.
Maccabi Tel Aviv club fans have a long history of racism and anti-Palestinian behaviour. The club has played in the Champions League and Europa League group stages. Netanyahu appealed to the Dutch authorities to act strictly and quickly against the attackers and ensure the peace of the Israelis.
The Israeli Embassy in the United States wrote on X claiming that fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv were attacked in Amsterdam on Thursday night.