Netanyahu sends 2 planes to Netherlands to rescue Israeli soccer fans

Amsterdam — Leaders of Israel and nan Netherlands connected Friday condemned what they called antisemitic attacks connected fans of shot nine Maccabi Tel Aviv earlier and aft a Europa League shot lucifer betwixt their squad and Ajax, and Israel said it was sending planes to alert supporters location from nan Dutch capital.

The unit erupted Thursday contempt a prohibition connected a pro-Palestinian objection adjacent nan shot stadium imposed by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, who'd feared clashes would break retired betwixt protesters and supporters of nan Israeli shot club.

Amsterdam constabulary had nary contiguous remark connected nan unit aliases numbers of arrests and injuries.

But Halsema said supporters of nan Israeli squad were wounded and nan grade of nan unit and number of arrests were still being sorted out, according to nan Reuters news agency.

Agence France-Presse reported that  a Dutch constabulary spokesperson told nan Dutch ANP news agency 57 group had been arrested.

AFP said societal media platforms were inundated pinch unverified images supposedly showing nan violence, but authorities offered fewer confirmed details.

AFP said AT5 reported that nan clashes occurred astir midnight pinch galore fights and acts of vandalism successful nan halfway of Amsterdam. "A ample number of mobile portion vehicles are coming and reinforcements person besides been called in," AT5 said.

Israeli shot supporters and Dutch younker conflict adjacent Amsterdam Central station, successful Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 8, 2024, successful this still image obtained from a societal media video. X/ iAnnet via REUTERS.

Details were unclear, but Israel ordered that 2 planes beryllium sent to nan Dutch superior to bring nan Israelis home.

"The Prime Minister has directed that 2 rescue planes beryllium sent instantly to assistance our citizens," said a connection from Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

It added that "the harsh pictures of nan battle connected our citizens successful Amsterdam will not beryllium overlooked," and that Netanyahu "views nan premeditated antisemitic onslaught against Israeli citizens pinch utmost gravity." He demanded that nan Dutch authorities return "vigorous and swift action" against those involved.

Netanyahu's agency added that he had called for accrued information for nan Jewish organization successful nan Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said connected X that he followed reports of nan unit "with horror."

"Completely unacceptable antisemitic attacks connected Israelis. I americium successful adjacent interaction pinch everyone involved," he added, saying that he had spoken to Netanyahu and "emphasized that nan perpetrators will beryllium tracked down and prosecuted. It is now quiet successful nan capital."

The Israeli Embassy successful Washington said connected nan societal media level X that "hundreds" of Maccabi fans were "ambushed and attacked successful Amsterdam coming arsenic they near nan stadium pursuing a game," according to AFP. The embassy blamed nan unit connected a "mob who targeted guiltless Israelis."

Geert Wilders, nan difficult correct nationalist lawmaker whose Party for Freedom won elections successful nan Netherlands past twelvemonth and who is simply a staunch state of Israel, reacted to a video apparently showing a Maccabi instrumentality being surrounded by respective men.

"Looks for illustration a Jew hunt successful nan streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport nan multicultural scum that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters successful our streets. Ashamed that this tin hap successful The Netherlands. Totally unacceptable," Wilders said.

Israel's Ambassador to nan United Nations, Danny Danon, besides condemned nan unit successful a station connected nan societal media level X. 

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