Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested by Dutch police in Amsterdam after they ignored a ban on protests, which was enforced following violent confrontations between Israeli football fans and local youth.
The mayor’s decision to prohibit protests in the city was upheld by the Amsterdam District Court, just three days after clashes erupted involving Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans and individuals on scooters across various parts of the city.
In defiance of the ban, hundreds of protesters convened in Dam square, holding signs declaring, “We want our streets back,” and chanting, “Free Palestine,” as observed by an AFP correspondent.
Shortly after the court’s endorsement of the protest ban, police in riot gear advanced on the demonstrators in the afternoon.
The court stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, “The mayor has rightly decided that there will be a ban on demonstrating in the city this weekend.”
Consequently, it “rejected the request” made by activists seeking to conduct their demonstration.
Dutch activist Frank van der Linde applied for an urgent permit to protest in Dam Square, despite the temporary ban on demonstrations announced by Mayor Femke Halsema last Friday.
Van der Linde aimed to voice opposition against the “genocide in Gaza” as well as to reclaim the right to protest, as reported by Dutch national news agency ANP.
The emergency measures also entailed enhanced police presence and mandatory face mask usage, remaining in effect until the following morning.
Nevertheless, this afternoon, numerous demonstrators began to assemble at the central square, in spite of a significant police presence.
The peaceful protesters chanted various slogans and carried placards, one of which stated, “We can fight antisemitism and genocidal Zionism at the same time.”
Tensions escalating
According to police, tensions had been building in anticipation of a match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johann Cruyff Arena on Thursday.
Maccabi fans were reported to have burned a Palestinian flag at Dam square and vandalized a taxi, as noted by Amsterdam’s police chief, Peter Holla.
Some incidents occurring prior to the match involved Maccabi supporters chanting anti-Palestinian slogans, which led to confrontations with opposing groups of youths.
Following the match, groups of men on scooters engaged in “hit-and-run” assaults on Maccabi fans in various city locations.
Police indicated that the assailants appeared to have been mobilized through social media calls targeting Jewish individuals.
Mayor Halsema condemned the violence, stating that groups were actively seeking out and attacking fans of the Israeli club.
“This is an outburst of antisemitism that I hope to never see again,” Halsema remarked, expressing her “shame” over the violence.
So far, at least 63 individuals have been arrested, primarily before and during the match, with four still in custody, according to prosecutors.
A major investigation has been initiated by police, with additional arrests anticipated.
Israel advises citizens to refrain from international cultural and sports events
On Sunday, Israel advised its citizens to avoid international cultural and sporting events involving Israelis for the upcoming week, following clashes between Israeli football fans and locals in Amsterdam.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office indicated that Israeli intelligence had detected intentions from pro-Palestinian groups abroad to target Israelis in various European cities, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium.
Israeli authorities also recommended that Israeli fans abstain from attending the France-Israel football match in Paris on Thursday.
The National Security Council urged Israelis to “avoid attending sports games/cultural events involving Israelis, especially regarding the upcoming match of the Israeli national team in Paris,” the statement concluded.
