Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam after Europa League match; PM Netanyahu reacts

The assailants were heard chanting 'Free Palestine' and forcing the Israeli fans to do the same.

Hundreds of fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv were reportedly attacked on Thursday night in Amsterdam after the team's Europa League fixture against Dutch club AFC Ajax.

The assailants were seen carrying Palestinian flags and chanting 'Free Palestine' in several videos on social media. They were also seen forcing the Israeli fans to chant the same. The video was shared by the Israeli embassy in the US.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has asked his Dutch counterpart to help get Israeli out of the country safely following the incident.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also, in a statement, said that he has been informed of the details of "a very violent incident" targeting Israeli citizens in Amsterdam, his office said on Friday. He directed that two rescue planes be sent immediately to assist citizens there.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Friday said the violence targetting Israeli citizens surrounding the match in Amsterdam was unacceptable, adding that all perpetrators needed to be prosecuted.

"I followed the news from Amsterdam with disgust," Schoof said in a post on X in which he also said he was in touch with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the incident. 

The Israeli military said on Friday that it is preparing to immediately deploy a rescue mission with the coordination of the Dutch government.

"The mission will be deployed using cargo aircraft and include medical and rescue teams," the IDF said.

Ajax won the game 5-0 with goals from Traoré, Taylor, Godts, Brobbey and Fitz-Jim.

(With Reuters inputs)