Hakim Ziyech, the former Chelsea winger who currently plays for Galatasaray, is under fire for sharing a controversial post that appeared to mock Israeli football supporters attacked in Amsterdam.
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Violence erupted in the Dutch capital on Thursday night as Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, who were there for a Europa League match against Ajax, faced organized assaults.
Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, described the incidents as orchestrated by “antisemitic hit-and-run squads,” saying that men on scooters targeted Israeli fans across the city in a disturbing attack.
The violent encounters left at least five people hospitalized, and 62 individuals were arrested. Social media footage captured some distressing scenes, including one man lying motionless while being kicked and another begging for mercy as his attacker shouted “free Palestine.”
Following these attacks, Ziyech shared a video of people fleeing the attackers on his Instagram, writing, “If it’s not women and children they run away.”
Ziyech’s post has provoked a strong reaction, with Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Eran Zahavi, who also plays for Israel’s national team, publicly condemning the message. In an Instagram response, Zahavi called Ziyech a “stupid terror supporter” and appealed to UEFA for disciplinary action.
The incidents followed rising tensions surrounding a pro-Palestine demonstration that was restricted from being near the Johan Cruyff Arena. Reports indicate that a video from the previous evening, showing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans removing a Palestinian flag in Amsterdam’s city center, had incited anger.
Further discord arose as Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters reportedly chanted controversial slogans supporting the Israel Defense Forces, while Ajax fans expressed frustration over disruptions to a minute’s silence in memory of victims of floods in Valencia.
In response to these events, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, drew historical parallels to Kristallnacht, a tragic night in 1938 when Nazi attacks targeted Jewish people in Europe.
Emergency measures in Amsterdam now prohibit face coverings and protests as authorities work to manage the heightened tensions and ensure safety.