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While the UN devotes its human rights operations to the demonization of the democratic state of Israel above all others and condemns the United States more often than the vast majority of non-democracies around the world, the voices of real victims around the world must be heard.
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Pro-Palestinian rioters (Screenshot)
Netherlands, November 8, 2024
‘We were ambushed’: 10 Israelis wounded in violent pogrom in Amsterdam
Original source
Following violent attacks against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans following a soccer match between Maccabi and Ajax on Thursday evening, Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed that all Israelis had been contacted, according to Ynet.
While police initially said they were investigating reports of abductions during the attacks, all missing Israelis have now been accounted for.
Local authorities and Israel's Foreign Ministry have reported that ten Israelis have been injured so far in the pogrom, with consul members currently searching hospitals.
Authorities say that the situation has calmed down over the last hour, and Israelis have been instructed to shelter in place. A Dutch police spokeswoman said 62 have been arrested so far.
Footage circulating on social media has shown fans being beaten, chased with knives, and narrowly avoiding being hit by vehicles.
Eyewitnesses told StandWithUs that they had seen attempted stabbings, people thrown in a river, with extremists beating and spitting on Israelis. Dutch riot police were sent in to respond to the attackers.
According to Maariv, there has been at least one attempt at kidnapping an Israeli, and many have barricaded themselves in stores and buildings.
Israel’s embassy in the Netherlands is working to relocate Israelis to a safe location.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed of the incident and has sent two rescue planes to assist Israeli citizens. The IDF is coordinating the rescue mission, and are sending cargo aircraft and two planes from the Hercules squadron with medical and rescue teams.
Israel's two chief rabbis have given permission for El Al company to fly on Shabbat in order to provide life-saving assistance.
The Prime Minister's Office said Netanyahu views the "horrifying incident with utmost gravity" and called on the Dutch government and security forces take "vigorous and swift action against the rioters."
He spoke with Dutch prime Minister Dick Schoof on Friday morning, asking him for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.
PM Schoof posted on X that he had been following the news from Amsterdam "with horror."
"Completely unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis."
He added that in his call with Netanyahu, the Israeli PM had emphasized that the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted.
The National Security Council has issued a new warning to Israelis and Jews in the Netherlands.
“Avoid movements in the street and lock yourself in hotel rooms. The externalization of Israeli and Jewish symbols must be avoided.”
Israir, Arkia and El Al have added three rescue flights, on the order of the Transport Ministry.
Details of the incident
Multiple videos showed Israelis jumping into canals to avoid the protesters. One video shows a man been kicked to the ground, while he yells at them "I'm not Jewish."
"I called my friend, and a voice in Arabic answered," one man said.
"We experience the very thing they told us in school would never happen again," another told Maariv.
These attacks come just hours after the country commemorated the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
A member of Chabad Amsterdam who was at the game told The Jerusalem Post, "I'm in shock now and hope that it will end soon. Didn't expect it at all."
"We'll try to help everyone, God willing," he added.
Israeli fans indicated to journalist Raz Amir that they believed the attack was planned in advance.
According to Amir, the police left the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans alone and did not provide any escort from when they boarded the trains and made their way to the hotels.
"The Dutch police sold us so that the Arabs would lynch us," one fan told him after escaping the attack and arriving at the Amsterdam airport injured and bloody.
"This seems like a PLANNED and ORGANIZED POGROM in Amsterdam," former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett posted.
"A fan told journalist Aviva Klompas that they ran over him, pulling a knife on him.
"We were ambushed…The police here abandoned us. Every fourth person walking the street is a Muslim who has come to attack Jews."
Members of the Jewish diaspora were also wounded during the attacks, according to Jewish News. A 33-year-old father of two from London was hospitalized after he attempted to break up a gang attack on an Israeli. The attackers reportedly demanded to see his passport to inspect for signs he was a "Yehudi" (Jew).
After initially refusing the demand, the 33-year-old victim said, “the next thing I know he punched me in the face. It was so unexpected. My glasses were broken, my nose split. Blood everywhere. After he punched me, about 20 more came out of their hiding places to effectively finish me off. But I stood my ground. I said what you’re doing is why you’re not getting any support.”
A member of the gang told the lead attacker to lay off as the main was British, to which the attacker reportedly responded "Yes, but he helped a Jew.”...
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