European soccer fans got involved in the Palestine-Israel debate lately. And some Israeli soccer fans were assaulted in Amsterdam. It appears that violence has continued, per Dutch authorities. November 12, 2024.
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(Netherlands) – One of the latest sources of controversy in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, and the various protests that have resulted, involves soccer fans in Amsterdam. Last Thursday, violence touched off following a soccer match between home club Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, an Israeli team.
This was a match in the UEFA Europa League Tournament. Ajax Amsterdam won the match. Israeli Jews in attendance were then attacked in what some reports have called a “Jew hunt,” that was planned “well in advance.” Video posted to social media shows truly harrowing attacks, including people unconscious on the ground, being kicked.
Since then, more violence has erupted in Amsterdam. Monday night, Dutch authorities say people started to riot, leading to anti-Semitic violence. Someone threw fireworks into a tram, and vulgarities directed at Jewish people were heard. This is all part of growing anti-Semitic displays following the October 7, 2023 terror attacks launched by Hamas in Israel.
Some who are decidedly anti-Israel argue Zionism is a flawed ideology that has victimized Muslims and others in the Middle East. They maintain Israel is a colonizer who seized land from others to create a Jewish state. But people on the other side of the debate highlight those same Pro-Palestine protesters have downplayed the violence from October 7, and overlooked Jewish people’s civil rights when carrying out demonstrations.
