Five suspects appeared in an Amsterdam court today in connection with violence following the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv match in early November. Tomorrow, two more suspects will be tried.
All seven men reside in the Netherlands. On November 7, small groups attacked Israelis in the city, leading to national and international uproar and accusations of antisemitism.
A day before, Israeli fans had removed a Palestinian flag and vandalized taxis. Over sixty people were arrested.
About forty suspects, including some Israelis, were identified by the judiciary. Fourteen were presented to an examining judge, but it is unclear how many remain detained.
The current defendants face charges of public violence, with allegations ranging from making violent calls in WhatsApp groups to attempted manslaughter. Chief prosecutor De Beukelaer stated that while antisemitism charges were brought against some, the incidents were not terrorism, as they resulted from anger over the Israel-Gaza situation.
The prosecution will seek varying sentences. Lawyers criticized the handling, citing long pretrial detentions.
The cases are prioritized due to media and international attention.
Source: NOS