Israel sends rescue planes to Amsterdam following violence at football match against its nationals

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent two rescue planes to Amsterdam following “a very violent incident” targeting Israeli citizens following attacks linked to a football game.

Israel’s national security ministry has also urged its citizens in the Dutch city to stay in their hotel rooms following the attacks, the prime minister’s office said according to media reports.

“Fans who went to see a football game encountered anti-Semitism and were attacked with unimaginable cruelty just because of their Jewishness and Israeliness,” Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a post on X (formally Twitter).

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he was in touch with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the “completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis.”

The leader of the Opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid, in a post on X said, “The scenes from Amsterdam remind us all of Europe’s darkest days. Jews being hunted and beaten on the streets of Europe should be a wake-up call for anyone who still needs it about the rise of antisemitism and the dangers of extremism.”

Fifty-seven 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.  Fans had left the stadium without incident, but during the night various clashes in the city center were reported.

“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is preparing to immediately deploy a rescue mission with the coordination of the Dutch government,” the military said. “The mission will be deployed using cargo aircraft and include medical and rescue teams.”