Dutch Court Convicts Five in Case of Attack on Israeli Football Fans

A court in the Netherlands on Tuesday, December 25, convicted five individuals for inciting or participating in attacks on fans of an Israeli football team in Amsterdam. The attackers, some on motorcycles and others on foot, pursued and then assaulted Israeli fans following the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Dutch club Ajax on November 8. Dutch officials stated that the attacks were organized and targeted. According to officials, more than twenty people were injured during these attacks. The Wall Street Journal reported that the court mentioned several of the convicted participated in online chat groups where they called for violence against Israeli football fans. One individual provided information about the location of the Israeli fans, and some were involved in the violence. The longest sentence, six months in prison, was issued to a 32-year-old man convicted of multiple violent acts, including kicking those who were on the ground. Two 26-year-old men were convicted for aiding and inciting violence through participation in a WhatsApp group targeting Maccabi fans, receiving sentences of 10 weeks and one month in prison, respectively. A 24-year-old man who attacked Maccabi fans and kicked two individuals on the ground was sentenced to one month in prison. The lightest sentence was given to a 19-year-old who participated in an online chat group calling for violence against Maccabi fans and attacked a police officer at a gathering, receiving 100 hours of community service. The Dutch police had previously reported that Maccabi fans had pulled down a Palestinian flag from a building and damaged a taxi. Videos verified by Storyful show Maccabi fans chanting anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans. Storyful is owned by News Corp, the parent company of the Wall Street Journal. The Dutch court stated that it considered the background of the events in Amsterdam but emphasized that this does not justify calls for physical violence and insults against Israeli football fans. Brief clashes occurred during a football match between France and Israel amid heightened security measures. Continued violence in Amsterdam led to several arrests by Dutch riot police. Israel urged its citizens not to attend the football match against France. The Netherlands is investigating the 'disregarding of Israeli warnings' prior to the Amsterdam incidents. Israelis are concerned about the security of sports teams in other countries. Protests in Amsterdam have been banned for three days. The attack on Israelis in Amsterdam raised concerns about potential hostage situations, and the U.S. condemned the attacks on Israeli citizens in the Netherlands.