**Israeli Soccer Fans Attacked in Amsterdam Amid Rising Tensions**

In a shocking turn of events, groups of individuals on scooters targeted and assaulted Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, leaving several injured in what authorities have identified as an antisemitic attack. Footage circulating on social media revealed Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters being chased and attacked near the central station of the Dutch capital on Thursday night.

"Boys on scooters crossed the city in search of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters," Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema stated. Describing the attacks as "hit-and-run" incidents, Halsema mentioned that the rioters quickly fled after beating and intimidating the football fans, all the while attempting to evade a substantial police presence. The violence emerged following a soccer match between the visiting Israeli team and the Dutch club Ajax.

In a separate video verified by NBC News, Israeli fans were seen provoking pro-Palestinian demonstrators by chanting inflammatory slogans such as "Death to the Arabs" and tearing down a Palestinian flag. These confrontations occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions, exacerbated by the recent outbreak of violence in Gaza following the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023.

Responding to the violence, Amsterdam authorities have taken emergency measures, including a three-day ban on all demonstrations. Mayor Halsema expressed profound disapproval of the incident and acknowledged the fear, anger, and disbelief experienced by the Jewish community in Amsterdam.

Local police reported that five individuals required hospital treatment, 20 to 30 others sustained minor injuries, and 62 arrests were made in the aftermath of the Thursday night chaos. Eyewitness accounts provided further insights into the severity of the ordeal. Iddo Gold, a 23-year-old Maccabi fan, described being ambushed upon arrival in the city center and fleeing from attackers equipped with knives and other weapons.

A video shared by the Israeli Embassy in Washington depicted a violent scene where a man was beaten while an assailant shouted, "This is for the children! Free Palestine now!" Although NBC News has not independently verified this footage, it adds to the disturbing imagery surrounding the incident.

Amsterdam's acting police chief, Peter Holla, mentioned that tensions between Israeli fans and local pro-Palestinian demonstrators had been escalating even before the match. Notably, Israeli supporters had attacked a taxi and disrupted a Palestinian flag. Efforts by police to separate the two groups proved challenging and ultimately, violence erupted post-match.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the antisemitic attacks on Israeli citizens, labeling the violence "completely unacceptable." He communicated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, assuring that the perpetrators would be identified and prosecuted. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also denounced the events, calling them "horrific & deeply shameful for us in Europe."