POLICE have detained more than a hundred people for taking part in a pro-Palestine demonstration in Amsterdam after it was outlawed following violence between Israeli football club supporters and locals, according to reports.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema banned all demonstrations over the weekend in the aftermath of the grim scenes of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters chanting racist slurs and tearing down Palestine flags before being attacked on Thursday and Friday evening.
Late on Sunday afternoon, the municipality, together with Amsterdam police and public prosecutor’s office, extended the ban on demonstrations until Thursday morning.
Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands said that 2000 Israelis were brought home on special flights from Amsterdam over the past few days following incidents of violence.
Before the match against Ajax, Maccabi fans were seen tearing down a Palestinian flag off a building in Amsterdam and chanting anti-Arab slurs on their way to the stadium.
Videos posted on social media showed Israeli fans shouting chants about the war in Palestine with lines reportedly including “no schools in Gaza because there are no children left” and “Let the IDF win to f**k the Arabs”.
There were also reports and videos shared on social media of Maccabi fans starting fights with taxi drivers and attacking buildings.
Other online videos showed Israeli supporters chanting and jeering during a minute’s silence for the victims of the Valencia flooding in the Johan Cruyff Arena before the Europa League football match.
Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool reported that about 100 people were detained on Sunday and were taken away in buses after protesting against Israel.
Police confirmed they were detaining demonstrators, but did not give numbers.
The protesters yelled chants including “free, free Palestine” and could be seen in videos being pushed by police officers before being detained.
Amsterdam Municipality said on X/Twitter that police had begun arresting demonstrators who refused to leave the square, which is in the heart of the city’s central shopping area and close to the historic canal network.
Organisers of the protest went to court on Sunday morning seeking an injunction to allow the demonstration, but a judge upheld the ban imposed by the municipality.
In France, Paris police said on Sunday that 4000 officers and 1600 stadium staff will be deployed for a France-Israel football match on Thursday to ensure security in and around the stadium and on public transportation.
