An Amsterdam District Court on Tuesday imposed sentences of up to six months on five men who were involved in violence that erupted around a UEFA Europa League soccer match between Dutch club Ajax and Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv in November.
The riots, which sparked international protests and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks, left 5 people in hospital and 20 others with minor injuries. More than 60 suspects were arrested.
The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to six months in prison, another to two and a half months, two to one month in prison and one to 100 hours of community service.
A series of violent incidents took place between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israeli soccer fans around the soccer match.
Some of the violence was condemned as anti-Semitic, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to evacuate Maccabi supporters. The violence, which made headlines around the world, damaged Amsterdam's reputation as a beacon of tolerance and a refuge for persecuted religions, including Jews.
“It appears that the violence arose from strong pro-Palestinian sentiments and dissatisfaction with the situation in Gaza, and related anger against the Israelis present,” the prosecutor's office said in a statement at the conclusion of the hearings two weeks ago.
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The five defendants, aged between 19 and 32, were charged with public violence, robbery and assault.
The Nov. 8 match was allowed to go ahead after the Netherlands' counterterrorism agency found that there was no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans and that the match was not considered high risk. Still, Amsterdam authorities banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration in front of the Johan Cruyff Arena.
According to an investigation, the day before the match authorities reported several incidents, including Israeli fans pulling a Palestinian from an Amsterdam building and attacking a taxi. In response, taxi drivers attempted to mobilize online, focusing on a casino where some 400 Israeli fans were gathered. The police mobilized to avoid a major confrontation.
Six more suspects will be tried at a later date, including three minors. Under Dutch law, proceedings for minors are carried out behind closed doors. Police continue to investigate the violence and have released images of several suspects they hope to identify.
—Casert reported from Brussels
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