A pro-Hamas group brandishing flags and signs was allowed to enter a soccer stadium in the Netherlands, while Israeli fans were banned due to safety concerns.
Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands Zvi Aviner Vapni scrutinized the decision to bar Israeli fans from a Hapoel Beersheba match in the Europa League on Thursday in a post on X/Twitter.
Vapni sarcastically congratulated the city's Mayor Anja Schouten, saying "Bravo to the Mayor of Alkmaar. A handful of Israeli fans were barred from the Hapoel Beersheba match today under the guise of 'security risks,' yet a mob waving signs (in Hebrew) reading 'Go Hamas' was allowed right in."
The pro-Hamas group also had signs calling to "kick Israel out of UEFA."
"Hamas is a designated terrorist organization in the Netherlands - the same group responsible for the October 7 atrocities against civilians, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust," Vapni said.
"Something is deeply broken in the Netherlands."
Israeli fans banned two years after being hunted through Amsterdam streets
The Jerusalem Post previously reported that Israel had condemned the Netherlands for the decision to ban Israeli fans from the Hapoel Beersheba match just two years after the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were attacked in Amsterdam while attending an Ajax match.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted a statement on X, “Two years after Israelis were hunted through the streets of Amsterdam, the Dutch answer is to ban the victims, not the attackers.”
"Alkmaar’s exclusion of Hapoel Beersheba fans rewards those who threaten and incite violence and runs counter to the very spirit of sport."
The ministry also noted that the exclusion of Israelis came amid a wave of antisemitic attacks in the Netherlands.
"Banning Israeli fans from attending the match, like boycotting Eurovision, is yet another stain on the Netherlands, as the country increasingly becomes one of the world’s leading hotspots for antisemitism," the statement said.
Israeli ambassador to EU called on the Netherlands to 'stand against hate'
Though the Israeli fans were not attending, safety was still a concern as two anti-Israel demonstrations were planned before the match. Both were moved to Rhijnvis Feithlaan, opposite the AZ stadium at hotel Alkmaar, but local police said there is insufficient space on the stadium site to separate protesters and football supporters and to prevent disorder.
Avi Nir-Feldklein, Israel’s ambassador to the European Union, said he had planned to drive to Alkmaar to support Hapoel Beersheba before finding out all Israeli supporters were banned by the municipality due to “very high risk.”
“When Hezbollah and Hamas cheerleaders are allowed to march and celebrate the October 7 massacre, no wonder it’s “high risk,” he said. “Instead of stopping the extremists, they banned the fans. Stand against hate, not against football fans.”
Mathilda Heller contributed to this report.