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An Amsterdam The district court on Tuesday imposed sentences of up to six months against five men who were involved in the violence that it broke out around a football match of the UEFA Europa League between the Dutch club Ajax and the Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv in November.
The riots, which sparked international outrage and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks, left 5 people in hospital and 20 others slightly injured. More than 60 suspects were detained.
On Tuesday, the court sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 and a half months, two to 1 month in prison and one to 100 hours of community service.
A series of violent incidents occurred between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israeli soccer fans around the soccer match.
Some of the violence was condemned as anti-Semitic, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to evacuate Maccabi fans. The violence, which made headlines around the world, tarnished Amsterdam’s reputation as a beacon of tolerance and a haven for persecuted religions, including Jews.
“The violence appears to have stemmed from strong pro-Palestinian sentiments and dissatisfaction with the situation in Gaza, and related anger against the Israelis present,” the prosecution said in a statement at the end of the hearing two weeks ago.
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Five defendants, aged between 19 and 32, are accused of violence in public space, theft and assault.
The match on November 8 was allowed after the Dutch counter-terrorism watchdog determined there was no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans and the game was not considered high-risk. Despite this, the Amsterdam authorities banned pro-Palestinian protests in front of the Johan Cruyff Arena.
According to the investigation, the day before the match, authorities reported several incidents, including Israeli fans yanking a Palestinian from a building in Amsterdam and attacking a taxi. In response, taxi drivers tried to mobilize online, focusing on a casino where around 400 Israeli fans had gathered. The police were mobilized to avoid a major conflict.
The trial will be held later for six more suspects, including three minors. Under Dutch rules, juvenile proceedings are held behind closed doors. Police are continuing to investigate the violence and have released images of several suspects they hope to identify.
—Casert reported from Brussels
© 2024 The Canadian Press
