Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been detained by police in Amsterdam after defying a ban on public protests in the Dutch capital.
Hundreds gathered in Dam Square on Sunday, calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza and expressing dissent towards the ban.
Demonstrations were temporarily banned by the mayor after Israeli football fans were targeted in what she called “hit-and-run” attacks on Thursday night after a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam.
The Israeli government has advised its citizens to “categorically avoid” Israeli sports and cultural events while abroad – specifically the football match between France and Israel in Paris on Thursday.
Authorities say Thursday’s attacks – which caused five people to be hospitalised – were motivated by antisemitism as the fans were sought out across the city.
The violence – which led to at least 62 arrests – was condemned by leaders in Europe, the US and in Israel.
The outcry was exacerbated by the attacks occurring on the eve of commemorations of Kristallnacht – Nazi pogroms against German Jews that took place in 1938.
Three-quarters of Jewish people in the Netherlands were murdered during the Holocaust in World War Two.
Amsterdam police said there had also been trouble the night before the match. Police chief Peter Holla said there had been incidents “on both sides”, including Israeli supporters removing a Palestinian flag from a wall and setting it alight, and attacking a taxi.
The city’s Mayor Femke Halsema announced a ban on public assembly on Friday lasting at least until the end of the weekend, deeming the city a “high-risk security area”.
