Dutch police arrested five more in connection with violence following a match involving an Israeli soccer team in Amsterdam on Thursday night.
Five men, all from the Netherlands and aged between 18 and 37 years old, were accused of “violence against people” before and after Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match with local club Ajax.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof said earlier Monday that “antisemitic attacks against Israelis and Jews” are “not shocking and reprehensible”.
Chaos erupted again in the city on Monday evening when an empty tram was attacked. It is reported that some rebels were shouting “Free Palestine”, according to local media.
On Thursday night, youths on motorcycles drove through the Dutch capital in a “hit-and-run” attack on Maccabi fans who were visiting for a Europa League match, authorities said.
Five people were treated at the hospital and others received minor injuries.
The five arrested come on top of the 63 that have been announced by the authorities since the outbreak of violence. One of the five was released from custody but remains a suspect.
The police also arrested many people after new riots took place in the city on Monday. No injuries were reported.
A number of young people dressed in damaged black cars in the western area, where the tram was attacked in the ’40-’45 Square. Videos posted on social media show the tram being attacked with explosives and its windows being smashed.
The fire on the tram was quickly extinguished and riot officials cleared the scene, arrested people, German broadcaster DW reports.
Schoof promised that the Netherlands would focus on prosecuting the perpetrators of Thursday’s violence.
“The pictures and reports from Amsterdam and what we saw this weekend of attacks on Israelis and Jews are shocking and reprehensible,” he told reporters.
He also commented on reports that Maccabi fans attacked a taxi and burned the Palestinian flag in Amsterdam, and chanted anti-Arab slogans.
“We are well aware of what happened earlier with the Maccabi fans but we think that is on another level and we condemn any violence, but that is no excuse for what happened later that night in the attack on Jews in Amsterdam,” he said.
Demonstrations in support of Palestine that had been planned for the past few days were closed, which angered the activists.
Others said they should be free to express their disapproval of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the actions of Maccabi supporters. Police chief Peter Holla said there were incidents “on both sides” during the clashes on Thursday.
The violence has been condemned by leaders across Europe, the US and Israel. For many, it was a shock to arrive on the eve of the memorial day Kristallnachtthe Nazi crimes of 1938 against German Jews.
Three-quarters of the Jews in the Netherlands were killed during the Holocaust in World War II.
Reports of antisemitic incidents in Europe have increased since the beginning war in Gaza more than a year ago.
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