Rabat – Today, riot police in Amsterdam broke up a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Dam Square after a court upheld a three-day ban on protests in response to recent clashes involving Israeli football fans.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in defiance of the ban, chanting “Free Palestine” and calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza.
On Friday, Amsterdam authorities imposed a protest ban after violent clashes erupted the previous night between Ajax supporters and visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of their Europa League match.
Viral videos showed Israeli hooligans marching through the city, waving Israeli flags, tearing down Palestinian flags, and chanting slurs against Arabs and Muslims.
While both the Israeli and Dutch governments condemned the violence, their statements centered on the attacks against Israeli supporters, overlooking the Islamophobic behavior displayed.
Dutch media coverage has since intensified anti-Moroccan sentiment, with some public figures and politicians blaming Moroccans for the turmoil, despite no official reports implicating Moroccan individuals in the incidents.
The court upheld the ban today, and police soon moved in, dispersing the protesters. According to Reuters, multiple people were detained.
Amid a climate of rising tensions, the local prosecutor’s office reported that at least 62 arrests were made over the weekend, with four suspects, including two minors, remaining in custody.
Several individuals faced fines for what authorities defined as public disturbances, vandalism, and other offenses. Reports have indicated that more arrests could follow.
Read Also: Dutch Media, Far-Right Supporters Blame Moroccans Post Ajax, Israeli Maccabi Clash
