dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam as “anti-Semitic and unacceptable”.

Supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv faced a series of attacks in central Amsterdam, with videos circulating on social media showing one man being punched and beaten and another showing someone being trampled. In some videos, people could be heard shouting pro-Palestinian slogans.

Riot police had to intervene several times to protect the fans and at least 57 people were arrested.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said two “rescue planes” had been sent to Amsterdam after what the Israeli military described as “serious and violent incidents against Israelis”. An El Al aircraft could be seen at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Friday morning amid a tight security operation.

Schoof said he watched the developments with horror, adding that he had spoken to Mr Netanyahu and promised that “the perpetrators will be pursued and prosecuted”.

“I watched the news from Amsterdam with disgust,” he said in a post on X.

“I am in close contact with all parties involved and have just spoken to @IsraeliPM Netanyahu on the phone to stress that those responsible will be identified and prosecuted,” he added.

Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters traveled to Amsterdam for a Europa League match against Ajax on Thursday night.

There had already been arrests and trouble in Dam Square before the match between Maccabi fans and pro-Palestinian protesters, but unrest escalated after the match.

Amsterdam police said it was unclear who took part in the violence, telling local media that those involved were wearing dark clothing.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke of a “pogrom” against Maccabi fans and Israeli citizens.

Israel’s Ministry of National Security also asked its citizens in the Dutch city to stay in their hotel rooms after the attacks, the prime minister’s office said in a second statement.

“Fans who went to see a football match met anti-Semitism and were attacked with unimaginable cruelty just because of the Jews and their Israeliness,” Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a post on X.

Local police said 57 people were detained after the match as pro-Palestinian demonstrators tried to enter the Johan Cruyff stadium, even though the city had banned them from protesting there.

Police said fans left the stadium without incident, but clashes were reported in the city center overnight.

Israel’s embassy in the United States shared a video of people apparently attacked in Amsterdam, saying hundreds of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were “shot” as they left the stadium.

The Israeli military said it was preparing to immediately launch a rescue mission with the coordination of the Dutch government.

“The mission will be carried out using cargo aircraft and will include medical and rescue teams,” the IDF said.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said authorities were still determining the full extent of what happened.

“Despite the massive police deployment in the city, Israeli supporters were injured,” she said in an Instagram post.

A pro-Palestinian rally demonstrating against the visit of the Israeli football club was originally scheduled to take place near the stadium, but was moved by the Amsterdam city council for security reasons.

Passions have run high in the Middle East and abroad since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israel.

At least 43,469 Palestinians have been killed and another 102,561 wounded in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza in response to the Hamas attack, according to health officials in the enclave.

The war in Gaza sparked protests in support of both sides in Europe and the United States, and Arabs and Jews were attacked.

Anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders, leader of the largest party in the Dutch government, condemned the reported attacks in Amsterdam in a post on X.

“I am ashamed that this can happen in the Netherlands. Totally unacceptable,” he said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has asked the Dutch government to help Israeli citizens arrive safely at the airport, Mr. Saar told his Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp, ​​in a phone call on Friday.