Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested this Sunday, November 10 in Amsterdam. They took to the streets despite the ban on demonstrations in force all weekend, after the violence on November 7 against Israeli football supporters, on the sidelines of a match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel-Aviv .
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On Dam Square in central Amsterdam, hundreds of demonstrators gathered, Palestinian flags in hand, explains Laxmi Lotaregional correspondent for RFI. They chanted slogans in favor of a ceasefire at Gazathe Palestinian enclave bombed by Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Among them was the activist Frank van der Linde, who had tried in the morning to have the demonstration authorized. But Dutch justice maintained the ban, explaining that the risk of further violence was still possible, three days after the violence on the sidelines of a football match Europa League between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, in the capital of The Netherlands.
The police, present in large numbers, asked the demonstrators who had come despite the ban to leave the premises. Although most complied, dozens of people were arrested by the police. The police used their batons and the demonstrators were evacuated on buses. Dutch singer Sophie Straat was also there and was one of those arrested. The mayor of Amsterdam announced the extension of the ban on demonstrations for three days, until Thursday November 14.
Investigation in the Netherlands after the violence of November 7
During the night from Thursday to Friday after the Europa League match, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were violently attacked by groups of individuals in the streets of Amsterdam. The match took place on Thursday in a generally calm atmosphere, even if some Israeli supporters did not respect the minute of silence in memory of the victims of the floods in Spaina country that recently recognized the State of Palestine.
The violence then began, leading to the brief hospitalization of five Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters. According to the Dutch police, 63 people were arrested. At this stage of the investigation, around forty have received a fine for disturbing public order and have been released. Around ten others were prosecuted for insults, vandalism or possession of fireworks and were also released. Finally, four individuals are still in detention, including two minors, but it is not yet known what charges have been brought against them. All will be presented to a judge later this week.
A Dutch police team is also viewing video surveillance images from the evening of the violence as well as messages published about it on social networks. Seeking to establish whether or not the attacks were planned and coordinated and whether taxi drivers were involved in transmitting information to the attackers via Telegram messaging, she also asked the population to send her any video of the attacks that she would have in her possession.
The investigators finally specify that they are also examining images showing Israeli supporters burning a Palestinian flag while chanting insulting slogans before the match and others marching with iron bars after the match. Here too, they are calling on eyewitnesses to come forward.
Following this violence, Israel organized emergency flights to repatriate its citizens. As of Wednesday, isolated clashes took place between supporters, according to the authorities. Maccabi supporters had notably burned a Palestinian flag in the central Dam Square, said Peter Holla, Amsterdam police chief.
On Saturday, Caspar Veldkamp, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, assured that a “ in-depth investigation will be carried out in the Netherlands “. Femke Halsema, mayor of Amsterdam, lamented “ an explosion of anti-Semitism » that she hopes « never see again “.
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