In response to violent incidents targeting fans of an Israeli soccer club, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema banned all demonstrations over the weekend. The violence, widely condemned as an outburst of antisemitism, led to the detention of several individuals participating in a protest in central Amsterdam that had been outlawed.
Before a match against Ajax, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters engaged in provocative actions, including tearing down a Palestinian flag and chanting anti-Arab slogans. Reports also surfaced of Maccabi fans initiating fights, escalating tensions in the Dutch capital.
Video footage captured police detaining a man participating in a small demonstration on Dam Square, where protesters were heard chanting 'Free, free Palestine.' Approximately 20 people were detained during the incident.
Despite efforts by protest organizers to secure an injunction allowing the demonstration, a judge upheld the municipality's ban. Police began arresting demonstrators who refused to disperse from the square, located in the heart of Amsterdam's downtown shopping area.
Senior Amsterdam police officer Olivier Dutilh revealed that incidents targeting individuals perceived to be Jewish continued overnight, with some being forced out of taxis and others asked to show their passports to confirm their nationality.
In response to the violence, a large-scale police investigation was launched, resulting in the arrest of over 60 suspects. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited the Netherlands and offered Israel's assistance in the investigation. Saar characterized the attacks and demands for passports as reminiscent of dark periods in history.
