An Amsterdam District Court has sentenced five men to up to six months in prison for violence that erupted around a Uefa Europa League football match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November.
The riots, which caused an international furore and accusations of anti-Semitic attacks, left five people in hospital and 20 others with minor injuries. More than 60 people were detained.
The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to six months in prison, another to two and a half months and two to one month in jail. A fifth defendant received 100 hours of community service.
A series of violent incidents took place between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli fans around the match.
Some of the violence was condemned as anti-Semitic, with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu offering to evacuate Maccabi supporters.
“It seems that the violence arose from strong pro-Palestine sentiments and dissatisfaction with the situation in Gaza, and related anger against the Israelis present,” the prosecutors’ office said in a statement at the conclusion of hearings two weeks ago.
The five defendants, who are all Dutch residents and aged between 19 and 32, were accused of public violence, theft and assault.
The November 8th game was allowed to go ahead after the Netherlands’ counter-terror watchdog found there was no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans, and the match was not considered a high risk.
Even so, Amsterdam authorities banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Johan Cruyff Arena.
According to an investigation, the day before the game the authorities reported several incidents, including Israeli fans tearing a Palestinian flag from an Amsterdam building and attacking a taxi.
Six more suspects will have their trials at a later date, including three minors.
Under Dutch rules, proceedings for juveniles are held behind closed doors.
Police are continuing to investigate the violence and have released images of several suspects they want to identify. – AP
