Amsterdam city councilman blasts Israeli ‘Maccabi hooligans' for starting riots

An Amsterdam city councilman has said that Israeli football fans instigated the violence in the city, attacking Palestinian supporters before the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv match, reported Al Jazeera.

“They began attacking houses of people in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags, so that’s actually where the violence started,” Councilman Jazie Veldhuyzen told Al Jazeera. “In response, Amsterdammers mobilized and countered the attacks that started on Wednesday by the Maccabi hooligans.”

Veldhuyzen also mentioned a video showing Amsterdam police driving by without intervening as Israeli fans tore down Palestinian flags at a residence in the city center. 

“The mayor says the police did act, but I would say they acted at the wrong moments,” he said. “They only intervened to protect the Maccabi hooligans when Amsterdammers stood up to defend their homes. The police appeared only when the Maccabi fans fled after attacking people.”