“These weren’t ‘clashes’. This was a modern-day pogrom. A stark warning to the West about the consequences of unchecked mass migration and the failure to integrate communities. Wake up before it’s too late.”
The spectre of anti-Semitic violence returned to the streets of Europe last night in chilling scenes that hark back to a dark past.
The city of Amsterdam was gripped by chaos as Israeli football fans found themselves hunted, and beaten in what some are now calling a modern-day pogrom.
The violent incidents erupted after Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv, in town to watch their team play against Ajax in the Europa League, were set upon by aggressive mobs. Reports indicate that after the match, these fans were chased through the streets, with some forced to leap into canals or seek refuge in nearby hotels to escape the frenzied assaults.
In footage that quickly spread across social media, mobs were heard chanting “Free Palestine!” and taunting their victims with cries of “Now you know how it feels”. Disturbingly, some attackers demanded to see passports, seemingly targeting those they believed to be Israeli citizens. The attacks were brazenly filmed, with clips showing Israelis knocked to the ground, some reportedly unconscious, while others pleaded for mercy.
Shadow Justice Minister Robert Jenrick did not mince words: “These weren’t ‘clashes’. This was a modern-day pogrom. A stark warning to the West about the consequences of unchecked mass migration and the failure to integrate communities. Wake up before it’s too late.” His words echo the sentiments of many who fear that Europe is sleepwalking into a new era of anti-Semitic violence.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, also condemned the violence, branding the attacks as “completely unacceptable anti-Semitic behaviour.” Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, expressed her deep shame, stating, “This is not the Amsterdam we know.”
The attacks in Amsterdam come at a time of heightened tensions across Europe, fuelled by ongoing anti-Israel protests that have surged in the wake of the Hamas-Israel conflict. The violent assault on Jewish football fans is a grim confirmation of the growing hostility towards Israelis and Jews, which many are saying has been allowed to fester in certain quarters of European society.
Critics argue that Europe’s leniency towards radical anti-Israel sentiment has created an environment where hatred can easily spill over into violence. As anti-Israel slogans have become common in protests, some fear that these calls for “resistance” are emboldening mobs to take matters into their own hands.
The violence in Amsterdam also raises uncomfortable questions about the political response – or lack thereof. Critics have pointed to the conspicuous silence from the so-called ‘anti-racist’ Left, who are usually quick to condemn discrimination of any kind. However, in the face of a brutal attack on Jewish citizens, there has been a notable lack of outrage from these quarters.
As Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch recently highlighted, Europe must confront the reality of allowing in migrants who harbour deep-seated animosity towards Israel. “That sentiment has no place here,” she warned. Now, many Dutch politicians are coming to the same realisation, as they grapple with the consequences of decades of failed integration policies.
While some may dismiss the Amsterdam incident as an isolated episode, it is becoming increasingly clear that anti-Semitic sentiment is on the rise across Europe. The violence directed at Jewish citizens in Amsterdam mirrors scenes witnessed in other cities where criticism of Israel has frequently crossed the line into outright hate.
The escalation of Israelophobia, with its disturbing mix of conspiracy theories and dehumanising rhetoric, has transformed criticism of Israel into an ugly form of bigotry. From the tearing down of posters depicting kidnapped Israelis to the fevered boycotts of Israeli products, there is a concerted effort to demonise not just the state of Israel but its people.
The Amsterdam violence is a sobering reminder that Europe must take a hard look at itself. If the continent allows itself to be consumed by hatred towards Israel, it risks repeating the darkest chapters of its history. The time for silence is over. It is imperative that political leaders, community figures, and ordinary citizens stand together to condemn this hatred, before it spirals further out of control.
