'Our Country is Not a Colony!' Dutch Young Stand Against Zionist Provocation

Tensions in Amsterdam lately become more intense after an incident involving Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters of Israeli football. Following their 5-0 loss to Ajax Amsterdam, a number of Maccabi supporters tore down a Palestinian flag, which set off a violent reaction from nearby Dutch adolescents. Reports of over 100 Zionist sympathizers injured in the conflicts and several more missing rapidly turned the situation upside down.

Israeli media noted the increasing death among their citizens and characterized the events as serious. Following the attack, Israeli officials aimed to minimize the bloodshed and pushed the Dutch government to implement security protocols. Israel's Foreign Ministry even asked for help to evacuate its nationals from the Netherlands, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed aircraft to be sent for this aim.

Since then, security precautions in Amsterdam have been heightened particularly in preparation for a sizable meeting of pro-Israeli groups at a Jewish heritage building. Citing the necessity for protection, Dutch authorities have banned protests honoring the 1938 Nazi slaughter of Jews; yet, initiatives to defend Zionist interests have been strengthened.

Still, the conflicts weren't one-sided. According to Dutch media and local residents, before their team's game, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters burned Palestinian flags and yelled anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slurs, therefore inciting the violence. Local indignation fed by these acts resulted in the riots.

Figures including Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and U.S. President Joe Biden swiftly denounced the violence, calling it anti-Semitic, which set off worldwide protests. Still, their denials mostly overlooked the provocative acts that set off the disturbance. French President Emmanuel Macron, on the other hand, expressed his criticism without attending to the insults aimed at Palestinians.

The incident was considered as a shock inside Israel. While local media sources like Maariv called the events a major loss for the Zionist cause, President Isaac Herzog described them as terrifying and unexpected. Reports from Israeli TV underlined the "difficult night" everybody engaged in had and presented a dismal image of the aftermath for the injured parties.

Following the tragedy, the Netherlands' support of Palestine has skyrocket. Amsterdam hosted a large-scale demonstration to show support of the Palestinian cause. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri connected the instability to the continuous genocide in Gaza and highlighted the inaction of the world community. With activists stating the Netherlands is "not a colony" and opposing Zionist provocations, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement commended the acts of the Dutch young.