Riots between Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and pro-Palestinian supporters in Amsterdam
Violence surrounding a UEFA Europa League match in Amsterdam exposed deep tensions over the Gaza war, resulting in hospitalizations and international condemnation.
Key Facts
- Hospitalized
- 7 people, including 5 Israelis
- Light injuries
- 20–30 people
- Match involved
- Maccabi Tel Aviv vs AFC Ajax, UEFA Europa League
- Dates of violence
- 6–8 November 2024
- Perpetrators sentenced
- Several locals given jail terms by Amsterdam district court
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Tensions surrounding the Gaza war inflamed the atmosphere ahead of the UEFA Europa League match. The evening before the game, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were filmed tearing down Palestinian flags, making anti-Arab chants, assaulting people, and vandalising property, after which plans to attack Israeli fans were circulated via messaging apps.
On 6–8 November 2024, violence broke out in Amsterdam before and after the Maccabi Tel Aviv versus AFC Ajax match. After the game, Maccabi fans were ambushed and assaulted across the city centre, while another group of Maccabi fans near Damrak was recorded assaulting people and damaging property, resulting in seven hospitalizations and 20–30 light injuries.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof, King Willem-Alexander, and international leaders condemned the attacks on Israeli fans as antisemitic, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry and UN Secretary-General condemned anti-Arab actions by Israeli fans. Four days later, a joint report by Halsema, the chief prosecutor, and chief of police attributed the events to a 'toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger about conflicts in the Middle East'.
Political Outcome
Several local perpetrators who attacked Maccabi fans received jail sentences; city authorities issued a joint report condemning racist violence against all minority groups and attributing blame to multiple parties.