In a shocking display of violence and antisemitism, rioters in Amsterdam actively sought out and attacked Israeli supporters following a Europa League soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, according to Dutch authorities. A review of several Telegram channels and groups used by Muslim taxi cab drivers show that this event was planned in advance, with some threads from earlier in the week discussing the arrival of Israelis and Jews into the Dutch capital for the soccer match and planning "surprises" for them. The overnight clashes left five people hospitalized and led to the detention of 62 individuals, sparking international condemnation and shaming the Dutch capital. Amsterdam’s Mayor Femke Halsema expressed profound shame over the incident, calling it "a very dark moment" for the city. 

A Coordinated Assault on Israelis

The Israeli government responded swiftly to ensure the safety of its citizens. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement, condemning the "brutal antisemitic attacks" and announcing that Israel was organizing flights to bring home affected citizens. Israel’s Airports Authority confirmed that two planes were dispatched from Ben Gurion Airport to Amsterdam to facilitate the safe return of Israeli fans, with the first plane departing just hours after the violence erupted.

Israeli officials took a firm stance, underscoring that the incident wasn’t an isolated act of hooliganism but a deliberate targeting of Jews and Israelis. Disturbingly, reports emerged that a group of Amsterdam-based cab drivers used a Telegram group to organize the attacks days before the game, allegedly discussing ways to "trap" and "ambush" Israeli fans. Some reportedly suggested picking up Israelis from the airport, driving them to remote locations, and leaving them stranded.

This is a Telegram Channel of taxi drivers in Amsterdam, look how they organized themselves to harm jews pic.twitter.com/gkQlWSH87g

— Red🇮🇱❤🇮🇱 (@Red54751164) November 8, 2024

Escalation Despite Preventative Measures

Dutch authorities had initially attempted to prevent any potential violence by banning a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the soccer stadium. However, tensions ran high leading up to the match, and skirmishes had already broken out earlier in the day as Maccabi fans marched through central Amsterdam in a display of solidarity. Video evidence revealed that Israeli fans had responded with chants after some bystanders hurled antisemitic insults, shouting “kill the Jews.” This, however, was only the tip of the iceberg. Pro-Palestinian agitators had been spotted in the area well in advance, and as the game concluded, they launched what Israeli officials are now calling a “coordinated pogrom.”

“A Jew Hunt”: Outrage from Dutch Leaders and Jewish Community

The incidents sent shockwaves through both Dutch and international communities. Geert Wilders, the far-right Dutch leader and staunch Israel supporter, described the attacks as a “Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam” and demanded the immediate arrest and deportation of the “multicultural scum” responsible. His words resonated deeply with a public appalled by the brazen violence and raised questions about the effectiveness of Dutch law enforcement in preventing such antisemitic behavior.

“Globalize the Intifada”

This is what @NerdeenKiswani meant when she created that violent slogan.@realDonaldTrump shouldn’t stop at deporting illegals. He needs to look into denaturalizing radical Islamists too. pic.twitter.com/NlLNoAw37T

— Jay Engelmayer (@jengelmayer) November 8, 2024

The Israeli Embassy in Washington voiced its anger on X, condemning the “ambush” on Maccabi fans by a “mob that targeted innocent Israelis.” Jewish community leaders across Europe echoed this sentiment, describing the attacks as “chillingly reminiscent of pre-Holocaust Europe.” Videos circulating online corroborate that the attacks were not random but meticulously planned. Rioters reportedly hunted down Maccabi supporters in central Amsterdam, assaulting them in coordinated hit-and-run actions and taking videos of the violence to post online.

“Horrific Antisemitism”: A New Dark Chapter for Amsterdam

Mayor Halsema’s statement lamenting the “dark moment” has done little to quell the anger and fear now pervading Amsterdam’s Jewish community and the wider public. Community leaders have called on Dutch authorities to address the root causes of rising antisemitism and to hold accountable those who incite and carry out such hateful acts. Some even suggest that a new form of “Jew hunting” has emerged in Europe, hidden under the guise of political demonstrations and clashes over Israel-Palestine.

A pogrom in the streets of #Amsterdam.

We have become the Gaza of Europe.

Muslims with Palestinian flags hunting down Jews.

I will NOT accept that. NEVER.

The authorities will be held accountable for their failure to protect the Israeli citizens.

Never again.

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) November 8, 2024

While Dutch authorities continue to investigate, the incident has spotlighted the enduring issue of antisemitism in Europe. This disturbing display of violence in Amsterdam serves as a painful reminder of the growing wave of intolerance threatening Jewish communities across the continent.