The attack on the Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam was not because they were Jews but because they were thugs who started provoking everyone until they received their punishment.

The ugly truth about the Amsterdam incident is that the Western media has adopted and promoted the Israeli narrative that the attack was anti-Semitic and a pogrom against Jews.

Even the Jewish Forward editorial today took issue with Israeli and global leaders who denounced the attack on the hooligans as a modern-day pogrom.

The editorial argued, "The Merriam-Webster Dictionary is more blatant. It defines a pogrom as 'an organized massacre of helpless people, specifically: such a massacre of Jews.'"

Only five people reported being injured, and one of them refused to get medical treatment, saying, "I want to be treated in Israel." 62 suspects were arrested, with 10 still in custody, but they were not identified as either local or Israeli fans.

What really happened to the Israeli hooligans in Amsterdam?

I first learned about it today through The Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) email. CAIR was the first to condemn the Amsterdam violence that was sparked by Israeli soccer hooligans chanting racist slurs, attacking residents, and vandalizing stores and homes with Palestinian flags.

CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell eloquently put it, "As a Black man from Georgia, I know that it would be widely condemned if a group of white supremacists marched through downtown Atlanta chanting 'death to 'n---ers,'' attacking Black-owned businesses and beating up Black residents.

I also know that no one would pretend that Black victims who defended themselves from white supremacist violence were racists who had suddenly decided to attack random white people."

It all started when fans of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv staged a pro-Israel demonstration at Dam Square in central Amsterdam, Netherlands, lighting flares and chanting slogans ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and local team Ajax on Nov. 7, 2024.

The fans were chanting, "Death to the Arabs," and "There are no schools in Gaza. There are no children," then attacked a taxi driver and set his taxi on fire. How could you defend such thugs?

During the game, the Israeli fans refused to remain quiet during the moment of silence, not for the victims of the Israeli genocide but rather for the 200 victims of the flood in Valencia, Spain.

Not only that, but they kept on chanting their racist slogans and using fireworks, which is illegal during the game. The reason? Spain recognized the state of Palestine and refused to allow ships carrying arms to Israel to dock in Spanish ports.

First of all, I have no idea why an Israeli soccer team is allowed to compete in European games. Nevertheless, the Israeli team was humiliated by losing 5-0 to Ajax.

Following the game, hundreds of Israeli hooligans marched downtown Amsterdam, chanting anti-Arab racist slogans again and carrying baseball bats in the city, where 10% of its population were originally from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Turkey.

Those immigrants came to Holland in the 1960s and 1970s and helped build the country after WWII. The Israeli fans were vile, rude, and uncivil, acting as if they were occupiers. They have no respect for the rules of law or the host country.

Besides, FIFA should not allow a team that takes part in genocide against Palestinians and Lebanese to play in competitions. They have murdered over 50,000 people and injured more than 100,000, and according to the latest statistics, 70% of the victims are women and children. After all, Maccabi Soccer Club does not hire any Palestinians with Israeli citizenship.

After the game, pro-Palestinian fans, many of whom were Moroccans, clashed with the Israeli hooligans and taught them a lesson they will never forget, which was recorded on video. Israeli soccer fans were begging their attackers. In one incident, an Israeli fan was heard begging, "I will give you all my money."

The man who was beating him said, "I do not want your money, motherf*cker." He then forced the Israeli fan to say, "Free Palestine" twice. Another Israeli fan jumped into the canal to avoid getting beaten. That is exactly what happened when Israelis faced their opponents on a level field without guns. They are scaredy-pants!

Israeli Propaganda Goes Into Full Gear

Contrary to the claim made by the Israeli embassy in Washington on Twitter that the Israeli hooligans "were ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam" as they left the stadium, they were not ambushed. They were challenged and disciplined.

Also, the attack on the Israeli hooligan soccer fans did not stem from rising tensions over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. It was in response to the Israeli hooligans' vandalism and provocation. As the Toyota commercial goes, "The Israeli fans asked for it, and they got it!"

Even as these hooligans were flown home on taxpayer money, they continued chanting their racist slogans from the plane. Now, those spoiled brats should know that violence and misbehavior have consequences.

Those same Israeli fans were responsible for beating the crap out of an Egyptian fan last March in Greece who was attending a game in which their team was competing while he was carrying a Palestinian flag. The man was taken to the hospital unconscious. Funny how we never heard of this story! I guess the life of an Israeli is more valuable in the eyes of Western media.

The Israeli Death Forces (IDF) warned soldiers on vacation to avoid traveling to the Netherlands. Even former Israeli War Minister Lieberman called on Jews in the Netherlands to leave for Israel for safety. It is laughable for him to suggest that at a time when over half a million Israeli Jews have already left Israel for good for safety reasons.

Finally, all the Israeli officials and other world leaders (including Genocide Joe) who defended the violence sparked by the Israeli hooligans as antisemitic, pogrom, and hunting Jews are sad and sick jokes. During the last 13 months, the same officials did not express outrage about the slaughter of women and children live on television.

Not to mention the big hoopla made about the Amsterdam attack, which occurred on the SAME DAY the UN warned that "the entire population in Northern Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine, and violence" as Israel continues its siege.

The Arabic Phrase "Darabni wa Baka"

In conclusion, the behavior of Israeli officials and their Maccabi hooligans about what happened in Amsterdam can best be described as deceptive and arrogant.

It reminds me of a song by the late famous Lebanese singer Sabah, "Darabni wa Baka," which means "He hit (hurt) and cried, and before me, he hurried to complain (file a lawsuit)." The truth is, the Israeli hooligans went to Amsterdam to celebrate the genocide and got their asses kicked. Period!

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelancer for Islamicity.com and ColumbusFreePress.com. He can be reached at [email protected].