Violence Against Israeli Soccer Fans in Amsterdam

The violence occurred in November 2024 during a Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer match against Ajax. According to reports, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC supporters were targeted before and during the match, resulting in numerous arrests and injuries. The investigation into the events has been hampered by the deletion of crucial footage by the city’s tram company, GVB, which replaced recording equipment at two metro stations after the attacks, resulting in the loss of video evidence from that night. Two inquiries suggest that social media posts, combined with a lack of official communication from the city, contributed to the escalation of violence. The Rotterdam-based Institute for Safety and Crisis Management noted the absence of official communication during the early hours of Nov. 8, which allowed rumors to proliferate on social media. The Justice Ministry’s report highlighted how incidents, such as the removal of a Palestinian flag by Maccabi supporters, were rapidly shared and amplified, contributing to the unrest. Prior to the game, pro-Palestinian demonstrators were banned from gathering outside the stadium. Reports also indicate that youths searched for Israeli fans, engaging in physical assaults before quickly fleeing the scene. Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, characterized the events as a "pogrom against Jews and Israelis unfold[ing] in Amsterdam."

Social media posts and a lack of official communication from the city fueled the violence.

More than a dozen people have been charged in connection with the violence, and several have already been convicted.

The city’s tram company, GVB, deleted footage that could have been used as evidence.

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