Israel urges Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to skip Friday's game in Italy

By Mustafa Deveci

Israel on Friday urged its citizens to avoid attending Maccabi Tel Aviv's basketball game against Virtus Bologna in Italy on Friday evening.

Citing Israel’s Security Council recommendation, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office advised fans to skip the game due to "concerns for safety."

Tensions flared Thursday in Amsterdam as Israeli fans clashed with pro-Palestinian demonstrators before and after the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv match. Videos circulated on social media showed Maccabi supporters removing Palestinian flags and assaulting Arab taxi drivers.

Footage from outside the stadium captured chants by Maccabi fans, including inflammatory statements such as: "There are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left."

Israel's government later framed the violence as attacks on its citizens, despite the initial confrontations being linked to Maccabi supporters’ actions.

Following Ajax's 5-0 victory, tensions remained high with Dutch police arresting 62 people after riots.

Since Israel launched war on Gaza on Oct. 7, more than 43,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, and more than 102,300 others injured, according to local health authorities.

More than a year into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide against Palestinians at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

*Writing by Yasin Gungor​​​​​​​