The Dutch police were present on the Dam Square in Amsterdam on November 9, 2024. French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, announced that he had decided to report a message posted on social media by La France Insoumise (LFI) deputy Marie Mesmeur to the justice system. This was in response to violent incidents that occurred in the Netherlands following a football match between Ajax Amsterdam and the Israeli club Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Mesmeur’s comments were deemed to be an apology for crimes, according to Retailleau.
Following the match, supporters of Maccabi Tel-Aviv were violently attacked by individuals in the streets of Amsterdam. These incidents were part of a larger trend of rising anti-Semitic and anti-Israel acts worldwide, especially in the context of ongoing conflicts like the one between Israel and Hamas since October 2023. The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, condemned the attacks, stating her hope to never see such an explosion of anti-Semitism again. The police reported five people briefly hospitalized and 63 arrests, with Israel arranging emergency repatriation flights for its citizens.
The Dutch government and various world leaders have criticized the attacks against Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters. The violence in Amsterdam prompted the prohibition of any form of demonstration for three days, with measures put in place to secure sensitive locations in the city. The capital, historically known as a safe haven for the Jewish community and home to symbols like Anne Frank, has seen events like a commemoration of Kristallnacht being canceled due to the recent violence.
Despite concerns about security, the football match between France and Israel for the Nations League will proceed as planned at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The decision to maintain the event was made by the French Minister of the Interior. The incidents in Amsterdam, which included vandalism and physical violence against Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters, have raised awareness about the need for security measures and vigilance against anti-Semitic acts in various parts of the world. Authorities are taking concrete steps to address the issue and prevent further incidents.
