Police order restoration units in the Netherlands began breaking up a pro-Palestinian protest demonstration. Authorities intervened after a court upheld a ban on demonstrations following recent clashes between pro-Israeli football fans and pro-Palestinians.
Hundreds of protesters defied a ban on gathering in Amsterdam’s Dam Square. There they chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine,” calling for an end to the violence in Gaza.
After a local court upheld the ban, the police intervened and ordered the protesters to leave.
A Reuters reporter saw several people being forcibly removed by police.
The decision of the Dutch authorities
The three-day ban was imposed from Friday, following attacks on Israeli fans following a soccer match between Ajax Amsterdam and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv.
At least five people were injured early Friday morning when they were attacked by “anti-Semitic groups,” according to Amsterdam Mayor Femke Salsema.
Late Saturday night, prosecutors announced that four suspects in the violence remained in custody, including two minors, and that 40 people had been fined for disorderly conduct and 10 for offenses including vandalism.
They added that they expect more arrests to be made.
Why did they come to this decision?
A large group of Maccabi supporters can be seen in video posted on the Bender news website armed with sticks, pipes and stones and twice clashing with opponents as they head towards the city after the match.
This video was not verified by Reuters.
Local police chief Olivier Dutil told the court the ban remains necessary as new anti-Semitic incidents took place on Saturday night, local AT5 television reported.
Dutil told the court that people were forced out of taxis and intimidated by others who asked to see their passports. Reuters was unable to verify this information.
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