Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar referred to the violence as “a blaring alarm call for Europe and the world.”
Israeli soccer fans were targeted in what have been described as antisemitic attacks in the Netherlands after a match on Thursday.
Following the Europa League game between Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday night, videos of Israeli fans being attacked circulated on social media, although Newsweek is unable to verify the footage.’How Has Israel Responded?’
Israeli authorities initially planned to send two rescue planes to Amsterdam although this plan was later canceled.
The Israeli military initially wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Following the severe incidents of violence against Israelis in Amsterdam, under the guidance of the political echelon and following the assessment of the situation, the IDF immediately prepared to send out a rescue mission in coordination with the Dutch government.”
However, Israel’s military later said the rescue mission would not be taking place.
“Following the directive of the political echelon, the IDF mission will not be departing to Amsterdam”, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement provided to Newsweek.
“In accordance with the situational assessment, it was decided that IDF soldiers will be prohibited from flying to the Netherlands until further notice. Exceptional requests will be examined on an individual basis.”
Following the attacks, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar “urgently flew to the Netherlands on the request of the Prime Minister on Friday morning”, according to the Jerusalem Post.
