Dozens Detained In Amsterdam After Defying Protest Ban.
Amsterdam police detained dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on Sunday after they defied a temporary ban on public protests. Hundreds gathered in Dam Square, calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza and challenging the city’s restriction on protests.
The protest ban was imposed by Mayor Femke Halsema following a series of “hit-and-run” attacks targeting Israeli football fans in Amsterdam. The incidents occurred after Thursday’s match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, where attacks left five people hospitalised. Authorities attributed the violence to antisemitism, leading to 62 arrests. The timing of the attacks, on the eve of Kristallnacht commemorations, drew condemnation from European, US, and Israeli leaders.
Sunday’s protest saw demonstrators express their right to voice opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza. “This protest has nothing to do with antisemitism,” said Alexander van Stokkum, one of the protesters. Some demonstrators argued against the protest ban, accusing officials of suppressing Palestinian resistance. Despite an attempt by activist Frank van der Linde to secure a permit for the gathering, Amsterdam’s district court upheld the ban, citing security risks.
The protest came amid heightened security measures for Israelis abroad, with Israel’s National Security Council advising citizens to avoid gatherings and hide symbols that might identify them as Jewish. The Israeli embassy in the Netherlands had previously warned its citizens to steer clear of Dam Square on Sunday, citing concerns over potential violence.
As tensions remain high across Europe, Paris police announced a significant security presence for an upcoming Nations League match between France and Israel, scheduled for 14 November, with 4,000 officers set to be deployed in the city.
