Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar launched a scathing attack on Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema after she retracted her use of the term “massacre” to describe recent clashes in the city stemming from provocations by fans of an Israeli football club.
A few days ago, Amsterdam witnessed intense clashes between pro-Palestinian supporters and fans of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv. The altercations were sparked by Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans and tearing down Palestinian flags displayed on some windows in the city.
A Wave of Western Condemnations
The incidents prompted widespread Western condemnations of what was labeled “anti-Semitism.” During a press conference, Mayor Halsema remarked, “Young men on motorcycles roamed the city looking for Israeli football fans. It was a hit-and-run incident. I understand very well that this brings to mind memories of mass killings.”
However, Halsema later retracted her use of the term “massacre.” Speaking to the Dutch outlet Nieuwsuur last Sunday, she said, “If I were to hold the press conference again the day after the unrest, I would not use the word massacre.”
She added, “Had I known it would be politically exploited and used as propaganda, I would never have said it.” Halsema also highlighted that the adoption of the term “massacre” by Dutch politicians constitutes “discrimination against Amsterdam’s Muslim population.”
Reaction from the Israeli Occupation
On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar criticized Halsema’s comments, particularly her warning about Israeli propaganda through the use of the term “massacre” to describe the clashes.
In a post on his account on the platform X (formerly Twitter), Sa’ar stated, “The statement made by the mayor of Amsterdam is entirely unacceptable. The failure of that night should not be compounded by another serious failure: covering up the truth.”
He claimed, “Hundreds of Israeli fans who came to watch a football match were pursued and attacked by a crowd demanding to see their passports to verify if they were citizens of the Jewish state. There is no other word for this than ‘massacre,’” as he alleged.
Sa’ar further insisted that “using the term massacre was not Israeli propaganda. It was used by Dutch politicians who understood the severity and anti-Semitic nature of the incident. We will never again tolerate the persecution of Jews in Europe or anywhere else.”
What Happened in Amsterdam?
On November 7, tensions erupted in the Dutch capital following confrontations with Israeli fans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv football team. The fans chanted provocative anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans, prompting authorities to announce a ban on demonstrations in Amsterdam and Amstelveen.
Footage circulated on social media showed moments when Israeli fans removed Palestinian flags from windows of homes in Amsterdam. Another clip revealed Israeli fans lighting fireworks while chanting, “Victory to the Israeli army, we will eliminate the Arabs,” according to a Reuters investigation.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema accused those who clashed with the Israeli fans after their provocative actions of being “anti-Semitic hit-and-run groups.” Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte described the incidents as “anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis, which are unacceptable.”
Recurring Accusations Against Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans
Fans of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv have long been accused of inciting chaos and violence during matches. In March of this year, the team’s supporters caused riots in Athens, Greece. Footage showed Israeli fans assaulting an Arab youth on the sidelines of a match in the European league.
