that Amsterdam The District Court on Tuesday imposed sentences of up to six months against five men involved in violence It broke out around a football match in the European Football League Between the Dutch club Ajax and the Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv in November.
The riots, which sparked international condemnation and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks, led to 5 people being taken to hospital and 20 others being slightly injured. More than 60 suspects were arrested.
On Tuesday, the court sentenced a man to six months in prison, another to two and a half months, two people to one month in prison, and another person to 100 hours of community service.
A series of violent incidents occurred between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli football fans during the football match.
Some of the violence was condemned as anti-Semitic, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offering to evacuate Maccabi supporters. The violence, which made headlines around the world, damaged Amsterdam’s reputation as a beacon of tolerance and a haven for persecuted faiths, including Jews.
“The violence appears to have arisen from strong pro-Palestinian sentiment and dissatisfaction with the situation in Gaza, and associated anger against the Israelis present,” the Attorney General’s Office said in a statement at the conclusion of the hearings two weeks ago.
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The five defendants, aged between 19 and 32, were charged with public violence, robbery and assault.
The November 8 match was allowed to take place after the Dutch anti-terrorism authority found that there was no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans, and the match was not considered to be of high risk. However, Amsterdam authorities banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Johan Cruyff Arena.
According to the investigation, the day before the match authorities reported several incidents, including Israeli fans tearing a Palestinian from a building in Amsterdam and attacking a taxi. In response, taxi drivers sought to mobilize online, focusing on a casino where about 400 Israeli fans had gathered. Police were mobilized to avoid a major confrontation.
Six other suspects will be tried later, including three minors. Under Dutch rules, events are conducted behind closed doors. Police continue to investigate the violence and have released photos of several suspects they hope to identify.
—Casert reported from Brussels
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
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