Israeli PM directs two rescue planes to Amsterdam

file

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed two rescue planes to Amsterdam after being informed of "a very violent incident" targeting Israeli citizens, his office said on Friday.

Israel's national security ministry has also urged its citizens in Amsterdam to stay in their hotel rooms following the attacks, the prime minister's office said in a second statement.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said 10 citizens were injured and 57 people were arrested.

"Fans who went to see a football game, encountered anti-Semitism and were attacked with unimaginable cruelty just because of their Jewishness and Israeliness," Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a post on X.

Initial reports indicated it was an incident between several Israeli fans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv football team ahead of the team’s Europa League match against Ajax.

They reportedly marched through Amsterdam, stealing Palestinian flags and setting one on fire, and attacked a taxi driver and damaged his car.

“They began attacking houses of people in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags, so that’s actually where the violence started,” Councilman Jazie Veldhuyzen told Al Jazeera. “As a reaction, Amsterdammers mobilized themselves and countered the attacks that started on Wednesday by the Maccabi hooligans.”

Ajax fans, and other taxi drivers confronted them, chasing them through the city until they sought refuge and were escorted away by police.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has asked the Dutch government to help Israeli citizens arrive safely at the airport, Saar told his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp in a phone call on Friday.

More from International News

  • UN: 70% of Gaza fatalities women and children

    The UN Human Rights Office said on Friday nearly 70 per cent of the fatalities it has verified in the Gaza war were women and children, and condemned what it called a systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

  • Indonesian volcano spews ash 10 km high

    Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted several times on Friday, belching volcanic ash that rose up to 10 km (32,800 ft) into the sky, officials said, following a big eruption on Sunday night that killed nine people.

  • Pakistan bans entry to parks, zoos as air pollution worsens

    Pakistan's Punjab banned entry to many public spaces from Friday, including parks and zoos, as it sought to protect people from severe air pollution in parts of the eastern province.

  • Israel passes law to deport relatives of Palestinian attackers

    The Israeli Knesset passed a new law on Thursday that would allow the deportation of family members of people convicted of terrorist offenses, including Israeli citizens, while experts said it was aimed at Palestinians.

  • Trump appoints White House chief of staff

    President-elect Donald Trump announced that c, one of his two campaign managers, will be his White House chief of staff, entrusting a top position to a political operative who helped the Republican win election.

On Virgin Radio today

Trending on Virgin Radio

  • Mystery Voices

    Guess the 5 celebrities and score a heap of cash on Virgin Radio's Mystery Voices.

  • Bassem Youssef

    One of the most talked about comedians in the world takes over The Kris Fade Show. Watch the full interview here...

  • The Kris Fade Show Podcast

    Not in the car so much while Kris, Priti and Rossi are on air? Check out the daily podcast here...

  • Untold Dubai

    It arrived: The UAE's First Mega Music Festival at Expo City Dubai!