A mass protest against anti-Semitism took place in Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, hundreds of people took part in a demonstration against anti-Semitism. About it on Thursday, November 28, reports the portal Nu.nl.

"With the demonstration, the initiators wanted to send "a strong message against hatred of Jews". It is a response to the violence against supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, which erupted two weeks ago after the Israeli soccer club's match against Ajax," the publication said.

The rally was addressed by singer Lenny Kur, director of Christians for Israel Frank van Oordt and director of the Center for Information and Documentation of Israel (CIDI) Naomi Mestrum. They expressed their support for the Jewish people living in the Netherlands.

Several pro-Palestinian activists tried to provoke a clash by shouting slogans, but police officers removed them from the crowd. The event ended peacefully.

Earlier, on November 8, mass riots took place in Amsterdam. People wearing masks and carrying the flag of Palestine attacked Israeli fans after a soccer match between the Maccabi team from Tel Aviv and local club Ajax. At least 10 people were injured in the attack, some 62 people were arrested and 10 Israeli citizens have not yet been contacted.

Jeremy Lawrence, a spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office, called the attacks on Israeli fans "extremely disturbing." He also said that no one should be subjected to violence or discrimination on national, religious or other grounds.

Later, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said she was "very ashamed" of what had happened in the Dutch capital. She expressed her condolences to the Israeli victims and their families. In her opinion, it was not only the fans who suffered, but also the history of Amsterdam.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian movement Hamas subjected the territory of Israel to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Israel began retaliatory strikes the same day.

The Palestinians are trying to ensure that future borders between the two countries follow the lines that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, with possible land swaps. Palestine wants to establish its own state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Israel refuses to return to the 1967 borders and divide Jerusalem.