AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Dutch police detained dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters in Amsterdam on Sunday, November 10, 2024, after demonstrators defied a ban on public assembly, gathering in Dam Square to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza and express opposition to the restriction.
The demonstration took place despite a temporary ban on protests issued by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema.
The ban followed what authorities described as antisemitic “hit-and-run” attacks on Israeli football fans on Thursday, November 7, 2024 evening, after a Europa League match between Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam.
The attacks, which targeted Israeli fans across the city, resulted in five hospitalisations and 62 arrests, and were widely condemned by leaders across Europe, the United States, and Israel.
In response to Thursday’s events, Mayor Halsema declared Amsterdam a “high-risk security area” and imposed a public assembly ban lasting through the weekend.
Despite this, hundreds of demonstrators convened in Dam Square on Sunday, demanding the right to protest and criticising Israeli actions in Gaza.
Many demonstrators expressed frustration at the equating of pro-Palestinian sentiment with antisemitism, arguing that the protest was aimed at condemning the recent violent incidents involving Israeli supporters in Amsterdam, not targeting Jewish people.
One protester, Alexander van Stokkum, told AFP, “This protest has nothing to do with antisemitism. It is against Israeli hooligans who were destroying our city.”
Another attendee voiced their dissent, telling Reuters, “We refuse to let the charge of antisemitism be weaponised to suppress Palestinian resistance.”
Clashes and Arrests in Response to Ban
The police presence on Sunday was substantial, with officers in riot gear dispersing the demonstrators.
According to reports, over 100 individuals were detained during the protest, though Amsterdam police have not yet confirmed the exact number of arrests.
The ban on public assembly was upheld by the Amsterdam district court, which ruled against activist Frank van der Linde’s request for an emergency permit to hold the protest.
The court stated, “The mayor has rightly determined that there is a ban on demonstrating in the city this weekend.”
Van der Linde, a known Dutch activist, voiced his disappointment on social media, where he described the situation in Gaza as “genocide” and declared his refusal to surrender the right to protest. He was reportedly among those arrested.
Escalating Security Concerns for Israelis in Europe
In the wake of Thursday’s violence, Israel’s National Security Council has urged Israeli citizens to exercise extreme caution while abroad, advising them to avoid public demonstrations and to conceal any visible signs of their identity.
“Preparations to harm Israelis have been identified in several European cities,” the council warned, specifically naming Brussels, London, Amsterdam, and Paris.
Ahead of the upcoming Nations League football match between Israel and France on November 14, Paris police announced the deployment of 4,000 officers across the city to secure the stadium and other key areas.
Growing Regional Tensions and Public Backlash
The incident in Amsterdam reflects growing tensions and security concerns across Europe, where recent escalations in the Middle East have led to heightened fears of violence at public events.
On Thursday, Israeli supporters were reportedly involved in confrontations before the match, including an incident where they removed and set fire to a Palestinian flag, according to Amsterdam police.
The recent violence in Amsterdam has drawn significant attention due to its timing around the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 pogrom against German Jews, a period that carries historical significance, especially in the Netherlands.
During World War II, three-quarters of the Dutch Jewish population perished in the Holocaust, underscoring the gravity of antisemitic attacks in the country.
As the situation in Amsterdam and elsewhere unfolds, many are calling for a careful balance between public safety and the right to peaceful protest. Mayor Halsema has indicated that the protest ban may be lifted after the weekend, depending on the security situation.
