Dutch police detain pro-Palestine protesters in Amsterdam

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Dutch police have detained dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Amsterdam who protested against the government’s threat to deport dual citizens following violent clashes related to a football match last week.

Late Wednesday, riot police detained the demonstrators and escorted them into buses.

The protest comes after Geert Wilders, a hard-right Dutch political leader, recommended the deportation of people for attacking Israeli football fans if they have dual nationality.

Violence erupted before and after Maccabi Tel Aviv's away match against Ajax in Amsterdam last Thursday, causing widespread outrage, with reports of Israeli fans fighting bystanders, vandalizing property, and setting a Palestinian flag alight.

Videos shared widely on social media depict Maccabi fans not only vandalizing private property but also attacking a local taxi driver and even confronting law enforcement officials.

Amsterdam authorities imposed a three-day ban on demonstrations last Friday, with over 60 arrested and five Israelis requiring brief hospitalization.

On Nov. 7, Ajax won against Maccabi Tel Aviv 5-0 in a UEFA Europa League match.

Israel has continued its devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The onslaught has killed more than 43,700 people and rendered the enclave almost uninhabitable.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.