Amsterdam, November 12, 2024 – By Olimpia Galiberti, thinc.
In the wake of last week’s disturbing assault on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, thinc. condemns in the strongest terms this premeditated act of terror targeting the Jewish community. This organized attack – reminiscent of some of the darkest episodes in European history – has deeply alarmed Jewish communities and exposed security gaps that demand immediate action.
The violence erupted following the Maccabi Tel Aviv-Ajax football match, was reportedly coordinated by extremist networks linked to former UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) employee Ayman Nejmeh. Analysis from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) indicates that Nejmeh, an Amsterdam resident, orchestrated these attacks through social media, mobilizing groups that openly endorse anti-Jewish violence. These attackers employed firecrackers, stun grenades, threats, and physical aggression, and forced individuals to renounce their identities, in what has become the most extensive antisemitic assault in the Netherlands since the Holocaust.
The attack underscores a troubling reality: radical groups across Europe are increasingly using public gatherings as venues for antisemitic violence, leveraging social media and transnational networks to amplify their impact.
Europe stands at a crossroads. We cannot dismiss this resurgence of antisemitism, nor can we afford to repeat the mistakes of history by neglecting the safety of Jewish communities. In 1938, Kristallnacht – orchestrated by the Nazi regime – devastated Jewish lives and businesses across Germany. Today, European leaders must act with urgency and determination to prevent a repeat of such tragedies.
The Dutch government has recognized the severity of this incident and pledged to investigate failures within its police and National Coordinator for Terrorism Prevention and Security.
thinc. urges the Dutch government, European Union authorities, and international bodies to take immediate action:
1. Identify and prosecute the perpetrators: ensure that those involved are held accountable, leaving no one unpunished or at large.
2. Investigate oganizational ties: examine connections with organizations like UNRWA and scrutinize former employees of international agencies suspected of engaging in antisemitic and violent activities.
3. Strengthen protections for Jewish communities: implement stronger safeguards for Jewish citizens, events, and gatherings, so they may live without fear.
4. Confront antisemitic narratives: act against the misinformation and slogans that incite violence under false pretences, which serve as rallying points for extremism.
This includes the dangerous calls for intifada and for the liberation of Palestine “from the river to the sea”, and all such slogans denying the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and the legitimacy of the Jewish State of Israel. The demonisation of Israel is feeding the latent antisemitism and leads to physical attacks on Jewish people.
International law obliges its leaders to act decisively to protect all citizens, in this case, the Jewish communities and the Israeli tourists. thinc. stands in solidarity with Jewish communities and reaffirms its commitment to promoting security, justice, and tolerance. We call on European leaders to recognize the urgency of this threat and to respond with swift, effective, and resolute action.
The Hague Initiative for International Cooperation (thinc.) is a global network of international lawyers committed to promoting and contributing to peace in the Middle East based on cooperation and mutual respect.
