Israeli football fan describes Amsterdam attack: "They shouted Jewish, IDF.

An Israeli football fan has described being assaulted by a group of men during a wave of violence in Amsterdam, which local police said involved youths on scooters carrying out "hit-and-run" attacks that were difficult to prevent.

Adi Reuben, a 24-year-old Maccabi Tel Aviv supporter visiting for the club's Europa League match against Ajax, told the BBC that he was confronted by a group of young men while walking to his hotel. The group, numbering over 10, asked where he and his friends were from. Reuben recalled them shouting "Jewish, Jewish, IDF, IDF" in reference to the Israeli military, before they began harassing him.

Realizing he needed to escape, Reuben tried to flee but was overwhelmed by the attackers. He was knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly as they shouted “Palestine.” The assault lasted for about a minute before the attackers walked away. “I had blood all over my face and my nose was broken,” he said, describing the pain as intense.

Reuben was unable to see properly for 30 minutes after the attack but opted not to go to a local hospital, fearing taxi drivers might be involved in the violence. Instead, he arranged to fly back to Israel the next day, where he would seek medical care. He described the assault as being premeditated.

Other Maccabi Tel Aviv fans also reported similar incidents. Gal Binyamin Tshuva, 29, was attacked outside a casino after watching the game. A group of about 20 people approached him, asked where he was from, and demanded to see his passport. After he told them he was from Greece, they beat him, knocked him to the ground, and kicked him in the face, breaking two of his teeth.

Pnina, another supporter, agreed the attacks seemed orchestrated, saying, "There were many people. They jumped on us. We had to hide in hotels until it was safe to go outside."

Esther Voet, editor of a Dutch Jewish weekly, opened her home to shelter Israeli fans after seeing footage of the attacks. “I told them this is a Jewish home, and you are safe here,” she said. "People were really scared. I never thought this would happen in Amsterdam."

Dutch police confirmed that Israeli fans had been seriously attacked during these "hit-and-run" assaults, many carried out by youths on scooters. Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla acknowledged that, despite a heavy police presence, it had been difficult to prevent the violence. Authorities eventually gathered the Maccabi fans and escorted them to safety in buses.

Five people were injured, though they later left the hospital, while 20 to 30 others sustained minor injuries. Tensions had been building over several days, with Maccabi fans reportedly attacking a taxi and burning a Palestinian flag earlier in the week. Clashes had also broken out in Dam Square, though police managed to keep the groups apart for the most part.

The violence intensified after Thursday evening’s match, when police, who had been escorting pro-Palestinian demonstrators, were unable to prevent further attacks. Holla expressed his shock, calling the situation a “terrible” failure, especially given the large police response.

Tensions had been building between Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and certain individuals in Amsterdam leading up to the violence on Thursday night.

Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, stated that the violence stemmed from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which had brought antisemitic tensions to the city. “What happened last night was reprehensible,” she said, noting that Maccabi fans posed no threat of violence, and there was no animosity between them and Ajax supporters.

However, Halsema also acknowledged the complexity of the situation, referencing previous incidents involving Maccabi fans in Israel, including racism toward Palestinian and Arab players on the team. She condemned the attacks and emphasized there could be no justification for such violence.