‘The Israeli fans instigated the violence after arriving in the city and attacking Palestinian supporters before the match’
Nov 9, 2024
Thursday night, Israeli soccer fans clashed with Amsterdam residents before and after a Europa League soccer match between their team Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam.
Clashes occurred outside the Johan Cruyff Arena and across the city on Thursday night. Police on Friday said five people had been taken to hospital, and 62 arrests had been made.
The violence reportedly started when the far-right Israeli soccer hooligans began chanting racist and violent anti-Arab slogans, attacked Arab and Muslim residents, and vandalized houses and businesses with Palestinian flags.
Al Jazeerareported:
In one video, Israeli supporters were heard singing: “Let the IDF win, and f*** the Arabs!” referring to the Israeli army’s offensive on Gaza. Another video captured a fan screaming: “F*** you terrorists, Sinwar die, everybody die,” in reference to the Hamas leader who was killed last month.
The Israeli fans instigated the violence after arriving in the city and attacking Palestinian supporters before the match, an Amsterdam city council member said.
“They began attacking houses of people in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags, so that’s actually where the violence started,” Councilman Jazie Veldhuyzen told Al Jazeera on Friday.
“As a reaction, Amsterdammers mobilised themselves and countered the attacks that started on Wednesday by the Maccabi hooligans.”
Yet the corporate media – both in the US and abroad – portrayed the events as one-sided “anti-semitic” attacks on helpless soccer fans:
Horrific images show Israeli soccer fans being attacked and beaten by violent mobs in Amsterdam following a match against the Dutch Ajax Football Club. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a planned antisemtic attack. @PannellIan reports. https://t.co/T5ybDMCkdb pic.twitter.com/1XQj1XVB1t
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) November 9, 2024
US President Joe Biden, his Secretary of State Tony Blinken, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer were quick to echo Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that the events in Amsterdam were unprovoked anti-semitic attacks reminiscent of pogroms or the Kristallnacht.
The Antisemitic attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam are despicable and echo dark moments in history when Jews were persecuted.
We’ve been in touch with Israeli and Dutch officials and appreciate Dutch authorities’ commitment to holding the perpetrators accountable.
We…
— President Biden (@POTUS) November 8, 2024
There is no place in our world for antisemitic attacks like those against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam yesterday. The United States stands with the Dutch and Israeli governments in strongly condemning these horrible acts of violence and antisemitism in all its forms.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 8, 2024
This anti-Semitic attack on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam is pure evil and the images of the attack are eerily reminiscent of Kristallnacht.
The failure to protect the fans must be investigated swiftly and comprehensively.
The resurgence of antisemitism around the world is…
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 8, 2024
However many social media posts reported the context of the violence that was missing from corporate media reporting:
My friend Thomas lives in Netherlands
And he telling you, the corporate media is lying to you..Brilliant analysis 🧐
Watch.. pic.twitter.com/XPjcsuzrTL— Abier (@abierkhatib) November 10, 2024
Netanyahu describes the soccer violence in Amsterdam as ‘Kristallnacht’ – But, this video shows Israeli fans giving anti-Arab slogans and pulling down Palestinian flags. pic.twitter.com/I7tc6j89fV
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) November 8, 2024
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