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Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv: What really happened in Amsterdam?

The situation in Gaza

Published 2 December 2024
– By Ivana Bratovanova

Violence erupted in Amsterdam following the UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 7, 2024. Tensions between rival football fans escalated into violent confrontations, leaving several injured and resulting in multiple arrests.

Moroccan-born State Secretary Nora Achahbar resigned in protest, criticizing the Dutch government’s handling of the events, which she claimed unfairly targeted immigrant communities.

On the night before the match, around 11 pm local time, four people were arrested after pro-Palestinian graffiti was sprayed at the Johan Cruyff Arena, where the game was scheduled to take place.

Later that night, a group of Maccabi fans reportedly tore down and burned a Palestinian flag from a building facade. Videos captured some supporters chanting slogans like “Ole” and “F— you Palestine”, while a taxi was vandalized. Following a call on social media, a group of Muslim taxi drivers reportedly headed to the Holland Casino, where approximately 400 Israeli supporters were gathered. Authorities quickly intervened, dispersing the group and escorting the supporters out of the casino.

Authorities reported “relatively small” confrontations continuing near the casino later that night.

We wil f— the Arabs”

The next day, at around 1 pm CET, Maccabi supporters gathered at Dam Square for a pro-Israel demonstration. Videos posted online captured some fans chanting anti-Arab slogans, such as “Death to the Arabs” and “Let the IDF win. We will f— the Arabs”. Another Palestinian flag was torn down during the demonstration, leading to two arrests.

A pro-Palestinian protest, initially planned outside the Johan Cruyff Arena during the match, was relocated by Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, to a remote location. The decision, aimed at preventing further clashes, was met with criticism from activists.

Targeted attacks after the match

After Ajax’s 5-0 victory, messages appeared on social media “confirming that there are groups that are looking for a confrontation with Maccabi supporters”, according to Tuesday’s report. Officials cited screenshots from messaging apps that called for a “Jew hunt”. Groups of masked youths on scooters and e-bikes targeted Maccabi supporters, chasing and assaulting them in what authorities described as “hit-and-run” attacks. At least five people were hospitalized, and 20 to 30 others sustained minor injuries.

Videos circulated showing people being kicked and beaten in the streets. In one clip, a man was heard shouting at a victim lying on the ground, “This is for the children! For the children, motherf—-r. Free Palestine now”. Another video showed men, some wearing Maccabi fan colors, picking up pipes and boards from a construction site before chasing and assaulting a man.

Later that night the Israeli ambassador contacted the mayor saying there was “lots of anger” in Israel over the events in Amsterdam. More footage in social media showed some Maccabi fans at the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport singing “Why is school out in Gaza? There are no children left there”.

Police shoving pro-Palestinian supporters

Dutch police arrested 62 people, including Dutch and Israeli citizens. Four Dutch men remain in custody for further investigation. Authorities also launched a probe using CCTV and social media footage to identify perpetrators.

Two days later, on November 10, police detained 50 people at a pro-Palestinian rally for ignoring a protest ban. Another 340 individuals were transported by bus to the outskirts of the city. Critics accused the police of using excessive force, particularly against peaceful protesters.

Giordano Gronchi, a witness to these events, shares his experience with The Nordic Times:

I was present to take footage rather than protest outright, but things turned ugly quickly. Police began harassing protestors—pushing, shoving, and slamming into them. Protestors formed groups, but the police encircled them, tightening their rings with vans. They pulled people out, subdued them, and arrested many.

At one point, I moved to a group near Damrak street, where protestors were chanting and playing drums, entirely non-violent. Police in riot gear funneled them into Nieuwendijk street, announcing the protest was illegal. The street became a blockade, with riot officers sealing both ends. Customers from nearby stores were also trapped in the cramped space.

I was behind the police line filming when an officer shoved me into Nieuwendijk. I explained I wasn’t protesting, but I wasn’t listened to. Inside, I was told everyone in the blockade was under arrest. After showing my ID, I was let out. Later, I heard the police began beating people and arrested most protesters.

Investigations to focus on “antisemitic motives”

Rioters set fire to an empty tram and damaged several cars. A police car was also set alight. Videos posted on social media showed the attackers shouting “Free Palestine” and throwing fireworks and other objects at the tram. Dutch authorities made five more arrests.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attacks on Maccabi supporters as a “planned antisemitic attack” and compared them to the 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom. Dutch King Willem-Alexander expressed concern about the violence, citing the Netherlands’ history of failing to protect its Jewish community during the Holocaust.

Following the events, Moroccan-born State Secretary Nora Achahbar resigned from the Dutch government in protest against what she described as racist remarks made by her colleagues. Achahbar’s resignation followed a cabinet meeting on November 11, where she openly criticized the language used by members of Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s administration to describe the violence in Amsterdam.

Achahbar expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s narrative, which she felt unfairly targeted immigrant communities, particularly Dutch-Moroccans, while ignoring provocations from Maccabi supporters. Opposition leaders have since voiced support for Achahbar, condemning the government’s handling of the situation and calling for greater accountability and transparency.

Investigations to determine the perpetrators are still underway. Authorities are focusing on identifying the perpetrators through CCTV and social media analysis. The public prosecutor has stated that the investigation will prioritize antisemitic motives behind the attacks. Additionally, a partial state of emergency was declared, allowing police to conduct random stop-and-search operations to prevent further violence.

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Smotrich: “We will finally occupy the Gaza Strip”

The situation in Gaza

Published 6 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Bezalel Smotrich has long advocated for the permanent Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and the re-establishment of Israeli settlements in the area.

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Monday that the country intends to occupy the entire Gaza Strip. At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the planned expansion of the offensive against the area.

We will stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation’, declared Smothrich.

On Monday, Israel’s security cabinet unanimously approved a plan to expand the military operation in Gaza, which, according to government officials, means a de facto occupation of the entire Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of reservists have been called up for the operation.

We are finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation’, said the Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party leader during a conference organized by B’Sheva newspaper.

Prime Minister Netanyahu described the operation as “intensive” and stressed that Israel will not withdraw from areas taken under its control.

– Once the new offensive is launched, Israel will not withdraw from conquered territories. The intention is the opposite of that, said Netanyahu in a video clip on X.

Opposition: It’s about saving Netanyahu

Netanyahu added that Gaza’s civilian population will be moved south “for its own protection” as part of the plan.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition and relatives of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Many accuse the government of prioritizing territorial gains over human lives.

– The cabinet decided last night to expand the military operation inside the Gaza Strip – not to maintain Israel’s security, but to save Netanyahu and the extremist government, opposition leader Yair Golan wrote on X.

May constitute genocide

Plans to forcibly displace civilians in Gaza raise questions of international law. According to the UN Genocide Convention, the forcible transfer of a protected group with the intent to destroy it in whole or in part may constitute genocide.

Also under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), such displacement can count as a crime against humanity.

Palestinian documentary filmmaker killed in airstrike – film to be shown in Cannes

The situation in Gaza

Published 24 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Fatima Hassouna also lost 10 family members in the Israeli attack - including a pregnant sister, according to local sources.

Palestinian photojournalist and documentary filmmaker Fatima Hassouna was killed last week in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, just days after her film was selected for the Cannes Film Festival. The incident has attracted international attention and highlights the dangers for media workers in conflict zones.

Hassouna, 25, was killed on April 16 in an airstrike on her home in the Al-Touffah neighborhood of Gaza City, reports The Independent.

The Cannes Film Festival announced just 24 hours before the attack that the documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, which features Hassouna, had been selected for screening in ACID – a parallel section of the film festival that highlights independent filmmakers.

The film, directed by Iranian-Swedish Sepideh Farsi, is based on months of video conversations between the two women, in which Hassouna talks about everyday life during the war. The ACID section describes the film as an intimate portrayal of life in Gaza and a testimony from a civilian voice in the midst of the conflict.

According to local sources, ten family members also died during the attack, including a pregnant sister, while Hassouna’s parents were severely injured but survived. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed the deaths the day after the attack.

IDF: Attack targeted Hamas member

The Israel Defense Forces has stated that the attack was directed against a suspected Hamas member, but critics question the claim and say that the attack hit civilians with no connection to military targets. Director Sepideh Farsi has commented on the IDF’s claim, calling the information “nonsense”.

Fatima Hassouna worked as a freelance photographer, documenting the impact of war on the civilian population. She posted pictures and stories of everyday life on social media, including children playing among ruins and families losing their homes.

– If I die, I want a loud death. I don’t want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group, I want a death that the world will hear, an impact that will remain through time, and a timeless image that cannot be buried by time or place, she wrote in a post on Instagram in August 2024.

After her death, the statement was widely circulated and provoked strong reactions.

Hundreds of journalists killed in the war

UNESCO and several press freedom organizations have condemned the attack, and have long warned of the increasing risk to journalists in Gaza. According to data from Reporters Without Borders, more than 200 journalists have been killed in the region since October 2023.

The film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk has already attracted international interest. ACID announced that it also plans to show Hassouna’s photographs at the festival in May as a tribute to her work.

Fatima Hassouna’s fate has come to symbolize the high price paid by many civilians and media workers in conflict-affected areas.

Last working Gaza hospital bombed by Israel

The situation in Gaza

Published 14 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The IDF attacks in Gaza are growing in strength (archive photo).

Al-Ahli hospital in northern Gaza was bombed early Sunday in an Israeli airstrike as part of the further intensification of the military campaign in Gaza. The Israeli military (IDF) justifies the bombing of the hospital on the grounds that it was used by Hamas to plan attacks.

The head of Al-Ahli hospital, Dr. Fadel Naim, says they were warned of the attack before it took place. In a post on X, he writes that the emergency room, pharmacy and surrounding buildings were severely damaged, affecting more than 100 patients and dozens of doctors.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that one child died during the evacuation due to the interruption of care. The organization’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stresses that hospitals are protected under international law and that attacks on health care must stop.

Israel’s defense minister has announced that military activity will be rapidly increased across Gaza, and that people are being urged to evacuate from what it describes as “combat zones”. Israel has also promised to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages.

More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed so far in the Israeli military offensive, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza. Most of the dead are reported to be women and children.

UN: 15 health workers murdered by Israeli military

The situation in Gaza

Published 1 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The bodies from the mass graves are collected.

The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, warns that at least 15 Palestinian health and rescue workers associated with the Red Crescent Society and Civil Defense have been murdered by the Israeli army.

According to Jonathan Whithall, OCHA’s head of Palestine, the staff were killed “one by one” – and then thrown into a mass grave.

The incident occurred on March 23 during a rescue operation in the Tel al-Sultan district in the context of an ongoing Israeli offensive. The rescue workers were on site to evacuate colleagues previously injured in a firefight when their clearly marked ambulances and civil defense vehicles were suddenly fired upon.

A representative of the Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said at least one of the dead was found with his hands tied indicating that he was first captured before being executed, reports The Guardian.

– One by one, were hit, they were struck. Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave. We’re digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. They were here to save lives. Instead, they ended up in a mass grave, Whithall said in a video clip posted on X, which was recorded for documentation purposes as the bodies were unearthed.

IDF: “Moved suspiciously”

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN refugee agency UNRWA, also confirmed that one of his employees was among the victims.

– The body of our colleague killed in Rafah was retrieved yesterday, together with the aid workers from – all of them discarded in shallow graves – a profound violation of human dignity.

The Israeli military states in a “preliminary investigation” that it opened fire on several vehicles that were “advancing suspiciously toward IDF troops without headlights or emergency signals”. It further claims that the vehicles were in an “active combat zone” without first coordinating their activities with Israeli authorities.

According to the PRCS, an ambulance was first dispatched to take casualties of an Israeli airstrike to hospital. The first ambulance also arrived at the hospital, but it lost contact with the second ambulance and was alerted that it had been fired upon and that two medical workers had been killed.

A convoy of five vehicles was then sent to the scene including ambulances and civil defense vehicles, as well as two cars from the Ministry of Health to collect the bodies. However, these vehicles were also fired upon and in total, eight Red Crescent staff, six civil defense personnel and one UN staff member were reportedly killed.

Emergency buried under the sand

– The available information indicates that the first team was killed by Israeli forces on 23 March, and that other emergency and aid crews were struck one after another over several hours as they searched for their missing colleagues, comments Jens Laerke, spokesperson for OCHA, in Geneva.

– They were buried under the sand, alongside their wrecked emergency vehicles – clearly marked ambulances, a fire truck and a UN car, he continues.

Since the invasion and bombing of Gaza began following Hamas attacks in October 2023, at least 408 aid workers are reported to have been killed at least 280 of whom were working for the refugee agency UNRWA. More than 200 journalists have also lost their lives more than in any other conflict in modern times.

Criticism of the Israeli killings has been very harsh from many parts of the world. However, the country’s military usually defends itself by claiming that the journalists or aid workers killed were in fact either terrorists and thus legitimate targets, or that they were killed by mistake while in a combat zone.

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