Report: Israeli authorities foresaw danger in Amsterdam, failed to warn soccer club, fans
Dutch officials were reportedly told of risk, urged to up security; city bans demos for three days, gives cops emergency powers after attacks by ‘antisemitic hit-and-run squads’
Israeli authorities recognized ahead of the widespread attacks overnight Thrsday-Friday by local Arab and Muslim gangs on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam that organized violence was likely, with the Diaspora Affairs Ministry drawing up a warning document on Wednesday that highlighted the “very high risk” of such attacks, Channel 12 news reported Friday.
It said the warning was based on “indications” in social media monitored by the ministry, including overt online coordination of plans for violent demonstrations.
The ministry document shown by Channel 12 included a screenshot from an online post by a Dutch Palestinian group headed “No Zionists in UEFA/FIFA.”
The ministry’s warning noted that protesters were being told not to carry Palestinian flags or other signs of Palestinian affiliation, and said the organizers were presenting the planned violent protests as constituting “a direct clash” with Israeli security forces and the Mossad.
Related: ‘They came in masses,’ ‘attacked us all’: Maccabi Tel Aviv fans describe Amsterdam horrors
The report said the ministry drew up its warning document in the light of what it saw as “the open encouragement of violence by the organizers of the demonstrations,” and the fact that there would be many children and identifiable Israelis in Amsterdam for the Maccabi Tel Aviv-Ajax soccer match.
The TV report said the Diaspora Affairs Ministry’s warning was shared with the Foreign Ministry and “a discussion was held.” But neither of the ministries, nor the National Security Council, issued warnings or guidelines to Maccabi or to the fans, some 3,000 of whom were said to have traveled to the Dutch capital for the game.
Furthermore, said Channel 12, Mossad told its Dutch counterparts and Dutch police of concerns about violence and urged them to reinforce security at the stadium, hotels and the train station, but this “did not really happen.”
The outlet said that in the hours leading up to the game, Mossad began to notice “developments in the field,” as did the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, but still the fans were not told.
The report said the head of Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, is now in touch with his Dutch counterpart amid the ongoing investigation of suspected assailants who are in Dutch police custody, and what it classed as ongoing security issues.
It also said, without sourcing the claim, that there were “high alerts” at Israeli and Jewish facilities in Europe, and concerns about security at several forthcoming sporting events involving Israeli teams in the coming days.
While the outlet noted that Sports Minister Miki Zohar has recommended against Israeli fans traveling to matches in Europe, it stressed that the National Security Council, which issues such warnings, hasn’t done so and has no intention of changing the current travel guidance warnings.
Holland is on the NSC list of countries where a “Level 2” designation applies, indicating a “potential threat” and the need to take “precautionary measures.”
???? Key Findings from NCRI’s Amsterdam Pogrom Brief: On Nov 6-7, tensions between Maccabi TA fans and pro-Palestine activists escalated, leading to mob violence in Amsterdam. Despite advance warnings, local authorities did not intervene.
PGNL, led by organizers including a… pic.twitter.com/piOg4NBQwU
— Network Contagion Research Institute (@ncri_io) November 8, 2024
Israeli officials said 10 citizens were injured in the overnight violence. Hundreds more Israelis huddled in their hotels for hours, fearing they could be attacked.
Many said that Dutch security forces were nowhere to be found as the Israeli tourists were ambushed by gangs of masked assailants who shouted pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel slogans as they hunted, beat and harassed them.
Amsterdam police said 62 people were arrested in connection with the attacks on the Israeli sports fans. Ten remained in custody on Friday.
Related: Israel decries ‘pogrom’ in Amsterdam as soccer fans come under attack by rioters
The mayor of the Dutch capital on Friday banned demonstrations for three days and gave police emergency stop-and-search power after the attacks which she called “antisemitic hit-and-run squads.”
Mayor Femke Halsema said Maccabi soccer fans had been “attacked, abused and pelted with fireworks” around the city, and that riot police intervened to protect them and escort them to hotels.
“Antisemitic hit-and-run squads” managed to evade a force of around 200 officers, she said.
Halsema said city police had been taken by surprise after security services failed to flag the match against Ajax Amsterdam as high risk.
Ajax is known as a soccer club with links to Amsterdam’s Jewish community because visiting fans had to pass the city’s Jewish quarter to get to the club’s former stadium. Ajax fans sometimes wave Star of David flags and chant the Dutch word for Jews.
Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla said tensions were already running high, with “incidents on both sides” on Wednesday, 24 hours before the match.
Security has been tightened in the city, where a service was planned at a Jewish monument on Saturday.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden condemned the “antisemitic attacks,” calling them “despicable and echo dark moments in history when Jews were persecuted.”
“We’ve been in touch with Israeli and Dutch officials and appreciate Dutch authorities’ commitment to holding the perpetrators accountable,” the president wrote on X. “We must relentlessly fight Antisemitism, wherever it emerges.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was “horrified” by violence against supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, calling them “antisemitic attacks on Israeli citizens.”
“My thoughts are with those injured, their families, and everyone affected,” he wrote on social media. “I utterly condemn these abhorrent acts of violence and stand with Israeli and Jewish people across the world.”
Agencies contributed to this report.
