Pro-Palestine protesters confront Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam, leaving at least 5 hospitalized and 62 detained –

Amsterdam police indicated this Friday morning that they had arrested 62 people overnight, during clashes in the Dutch capital with Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv, which left five injured.

“So far, it is known that five people were taken to hospital and 62 were arrested,” in the clashes that occurred after a Europa League match between Ajax and the Israeli club, Amsterdam police stated in X.

Police are aware of reports of a possible hostage situation and disappearances, but at this time have no confirmation that this has happened. This is also being investigated. Several people who were missing have already been found, the force reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar travels to Amsterdam for an “urgent diplomatic visit.”

“In light of the serious developments, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will soon depart for an urgent diplomatic visit to the Netherlands,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Dutch police are collecting “verified information that can be shared” about what happened in the context before, during and after the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC held last night in Amsterdam, which will be detailed later in a conference press release, the spokesperson added.

At the moment, the Amsterdam police confirmed that more than a dozen people were arrested for different crimes, mainly disorderly conduct, before the match began, when several hundred Maccabi fans gathered in Amsterdam’s Dam Square. “At first there was a tense atmosphere, but it calmed down over time,” according to the police spokesperson.

On the other hand, a demonstration authorized by the city council against the war in Gaza was recorded in a city square located one kilometer from the Johan Cruijff Arena stadium.

This protest included a group of people, whose number has not been specified, and some tried to head towards the stadium, but were held back by riot police, which led some protesters to attack the officers with fireworks, causing “ hearing damage” to one of them, the police said in a brief note.

Finally, around thirty people were arrested for disturbing public order and for carrying or using fireworks at that demonstration.

The Amsterdam police spokesperson consulted by the EFE news agency could not confirm the identity, nationality or affiliation of those arrested.

However, several images and videos have been circulating on social media throughout the night, in which Maccabi fans are allegedly chased and attacked by masked men, or alleged Israeli fans tearing down Palestinian flags, but it is not clear where these images were taken. , and the Dutch police do not confirm its veracity either.

The Israeli Government described the incident as “very violent” and defended that Israeli fans were “ambushed and attacked” in Amsterdam after the Europa League match against Ajax, which ended 5-0 in favor of the Dutch team, and even announced the sending of two “rescue” planes for Maccabi fans.

The Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, expressed his rejection of what happened last night in Amsterdam and said he was “horrified by the anti-Semitic attacks against Israeli citizens”, something he described as “completely unacceptable”.

Schoof, who leads a government where the radical right has a majority, also promised his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Nentayahu, that “those responsible will be identified and brought to justice.”