Amsterdam police arrest dozens over attacks on Israelis

Amsterdam police have reported that five people have been hospitalised following attacks on Israelis in the city.

A total of 62 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the assaults, Caliber.Az reports per Israeli media.

Several Maccabi Tel Aviv fans are still unaccounted for, and Dutch authorities are investigating the possibility that they were taken hostage. However, these claims have not been substantiated.

Reports suggest the attacks were premeditated, with incidents occurring at various locations around the city, including near hotels where Israeli tourists were staying.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte following a violent anti-Semitic attack on Israeli nationals in Amsterdam. Netanyahu emphasised the need for the Dutch government to ensure the safety of all Israeli citizens, particularly those injured during the incident. He also urged for enhanced security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

Netanyahu thanked Rutte for his swift condemnation of the attack, which he described as a serious anti-Semitic act, and for his commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice. In response, Israel is dispatching planes to repatriate its citizens, including the injured.

Note that, the attack, which occurred overnight on November 7, targeted Israeli football fans attending a Europa League match between Tel Aviv’s Maccabi and Amsterdam’s Ajax, which the Israelis lost 5-0.

The assailants ambushed the supporters as they were leaving the stadium, in what was described as a "serious incident of violence." The Israeli embassy confirmed the attack via social media.

By Aghakazim Guliyev