Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered rescue planes to Amsterdam following a “very violent incident” at a football match last night.
Leaders of Israel and the Netherlands on Friday condemned what they described as antisemitic attacks on fans of football club Maccabi Tel Aviv before and after a Europa League match between their team and Ajax. Israel’s Foreign Ministry have reported that ten Israelis have been injured so far, with three people missing.
Horrific footage shared on social media appears to show fans being beaten and being chased with knives. One video shows a man being kicked on the ground and Israelis jumping into canals to avoid the protesters. “We experience the very thing they told us in school would never happen again,” one person told Maariv.
Israel ordered that two planes be sent to the Dutch capital to bring the Israelis home. “The Prime Minister has directed that two rescue planes be sent immediately to assist our citizens,” said a statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. “The mission will be deployed using cargo aircraft and include medical and rescue teams,” the Israeli Defence Forces said.
Netanyahu added that “the harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked,” and he “views the horrifying incident with utmost gravity.” He demanded that the Dutch government take “vigorous and swift action” against those involved.
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