Foreign Minister Israel Saar said the Netherlands arrested too few suspects in connection with the assault of an Israeli fan outside the stadium in Amsterdam.
“I was informed by the Mayor of Amsterdam that they have set up a special investigation team. But I must say that up to now, the number of arrests has been very small,” new Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday. 11/11.
Israeli fans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv football team were attacked outside the stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on November 7, injuring about 20-30 people. Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israeli fans encountered anti-Semitic crowds outside the stadium and were attacked “just for being Israeli”. Israel has also offered to assist the Netherlands in investigating the incident.
Mr. Gideon Saar in Tel Aviv, Israel, in March 2021. Image: Reuters
Dutch police announced that they had arrested 62 people related to the incident. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said the attacking suspects targeted a group of Israeli fans, suddenly rushed in, beat them, and then ran away.
However, the Amsterdam police chief added that both sides had been arguing since November 6, the day before the match. “A Palestinian flag was burned in Dam Square,” the police chief said
A video also circulated on social networks showing some people, apparently fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv, previously chanting in Hebrew “Let the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) win! We I will defeat the Arabs”.
Israeli fans were attacked outside the stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on November 7. Video: X/eitan fischberger
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians increased after conflict broke out in the Gaza Strip last October. The Strip’s health agency said that as of November 7, Israel’s military campaign had killed more than 43,600 Palestinians and injured nearly 103,000 people.