Dozens held in Amsterdam for violating protest ban

Dutch police detained dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters in Amsterdam on Sunday after they defied a demonstration ban, put in place in the wake of violence against Israeli football supporters.

Earlier in the day, the Amsterdam District Court upheld a decision by the mayor to ban protests in the city, three days after it was rocked by violence between Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans and men on scooters in several areas of the city.

But hundreds of protesters nevertheless gathered in the city's Dam square, holding up placards that said "We want our streets back" and chanting "Free Palestine", an AFP correspondent saw.

Police in riot gear moved in on the protesters in the afternoon, shortly after the court upheld the ban on protests, detaining dozens, according to AFP reporters on the scene.

In attacks that sparked outrage around the world, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were briefly hospitalised after coming under assault following a match with the local Ajax team on Thursday evening.

The clashes came amid a rise in anti-Semitism globally since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

"The mayor has rightly decided that there will be a ban on demonstrating in the city this weekend," the court announced on X.

It therefore "rejected the request" by protests to hold their demonstration. 

 'Right to protest'  

Dutch activist Frank van der Linde applied for an urgent permit to demonstrate on the city's famous Dam Square, despite a temporary ban on protests announced by mayor Femke Halsema on Friday.

Van der Linde wanted to protest on the Dam against the "genocide in Gaza, but also because our right to protest has been taken away," Dutch national news agency ANP quoted him as saying.

Friday's emergency measures also included an increase in police and a ban on wearing face masks and were due to stay in place until Monday morning.

But on Sunday afternoon hundreds of demonstrators started gathering at the square in the city's centre, despite a heavy police presence.

"This protest has nothing to do with anti-Semitism," said Alexander van Stokkum, one of the demonstrators.

"It is against Israeli hooligans who were destroying our city," he told AFP.

The Israeli embassy however cautioned that "Israelis and Jews staying in Amsterdam are advised to stay away from demonstrations and central populated areas and keep a low profile."

  'Full investigation'   

Police said tensions already built ahead of a match between Ajax and Tel Aviv Maccabi at the Johann Cruyff Arena on Thursday.

Maccabi fans burned a Palestinian flag on the Dam central square, and vandalised a taxi, Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla said.

The Europa League game Thursday finished largely in a peaceful atmosphere, praised by the Ajax club.

But sporadic incidents beforehand were linked to both Maccabi supporters, who were allegedly chanting anti-Palestinian slogans, and opposing groups of youths.

After the match, groups of men on scooters engaged in "hit-and-run" attacks on Maccabi fans in areas of the city.

Police said the attackers were mobilised by calls on social media to target Jewish people.

Halsema described groups targeting fans of the Israeli club, beating and kicking them.

"This is an outburst of anti-Semitism that I hope to never see again," Halsema said, adding that she was "ashamed" by the violence.

At least 63 people have been arrested so far, but only before and during the match. Four people remained in custody, prosecutors said.

Police have launched a massive investigation and more arrests were expected.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp who met his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Saturday said "a full investigation" into the incident was underway.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Saturday cancelled his trip to the UN climate summit to deal with the fallout.

The violence, which has "deeply damaged" the city, mayor Halsema said, and sparked international outrage with many including Schoof describing the attacks as "anti-Semitic".

However, the Palestinian foreign ministry condemned "anti-Arab chanting by Israelis and the attack on the Palestinian flag in Amsterdam" before the game.

Schoof, who was  criticised for not immediately returning home, said the issue would be addressed at a cabinet meeting on Monday.

"In addition, on Tuesday I will be talking to various Jewish organisations and social organisations about the fight against anti-Semitism," Schoof said.