The Amsterdam ‘Jew Hunt’: Europe fails again

A year ago, as stories emerged of a massive “Jew hunt” in Amsterdam, we knew immediately: this time was different.

Fighting antisemitism is our common mission. Yet this marked the first time in our lifetimes we were witnessing an actual pogrom in Europe: mass, organized violence against Jews for being Jewish. We had hoped and expected, not unreasonably, that pogroms were a thing of the past.

But on the evening of November 7, 2024, after Amsterdam’s Ajax soccer team played the visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israeli fans were hunted down in the streets like animals. On Telegram and WhatsApp groups, young men of Turkish and Moroccan descent planned and coordinated the attack in real time, calling it a “Jew hunt” or “Jodenjacht” in Dutch. Operating in gangs, they isolated victims, filmed their abuse, and forced some to yell “Free Palestine” under threat of violence. Some Jewish fans escaped by jumping into canals.

The irony was not lost on us that this attack on Israelis and Jews was premeditated and coordinated on the eve of the Kristallnacht anniversary, in the same city where Anne Frank once hid in an attic. The event was unprecedented in modern Europe.

In Amsterdam, CIDI and other main Dutch Jewish organizations immediately created a secret safe haven for the victims, arranging safe passage to the airport and legal assistance. Within 36 hours, we stood together in Amsterdam, meeting with Mayor Femke Halsema, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Justice Minister David van Weel and other senior officials. We delivered a clear message: this time was different, and we demand action.

And in those meetings with Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Justice Minister David van Weel and other senior officials, we heard clear condemnations and promises of decisive action.

What followed, however, was deeply disappointing and provides a cautionary tale for other governments.

Schoof and Van Weel could have put more pressure on the prosecutor’s office. They could have publicly expressed outrage when most perpetrators went unpunished. Instead, they remained silent.

Police officials falsely portrayed the situation as one of violence on both sides. Nothing could have been further from the truth. While there were instances of Israelis behaving badly, the scale and severity of the violence against Jews and Israelis was of a completely different magnitude.

And yet, somehow, police arrested only a handful of perpetrators. Those found guilty of attacking Jews received light sentences. This wasn’t just a travesty of justice; this was no justice at all.

Dutch media distorted the facts and excused the attacks on Jews as a logical consequence of provocation by Maccabi fans. Some Amsterdam city council members echoed this victim-blaming. The political party BIJ1 even posted their appreciation on Instagram, thanking ‘the brave Dutch taxi drivers’ for standing up.

Just to be clear, there is no circumstance where we should blame the victims and celebrate the attackers. There is no situation where it’s acceptable to harass women, bully children, or assault Jews. Such behavior is beyond the pale by every measure. The lessons here are clear for leaders who want to tackle antisemitism but lack the conviction to follow through.

First, no excuses. A war in the Middle East is not a pretext to attack Jews, and rationalizing such violence is simply unacceptable. A report of a single Israeli soccer fan tearing down a Palestinian flag is never a legitimate excuse to incite a city to hunt down all Jews. Political leaders should swiftly condemn any attempts at such justifications.

Second, no leniency. The incredibly light sentences handed down to the few convicted perpetrators sent a dangerous signal to all that antisemitic violence isn’t a serious crime. There should be penalty enhancements for such hate crimes.

Third, ensure law enforcement – police, prosecutors and judges – has the appropriate training to recognize antisemitism according to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition. Adopted by 46 countries, where over 95% of the global Jewish community lives, understanding the IHRA definition will help law enforcement assess whether an illegal action also constitutes an antisemitic hate crime.

These aren’t new solutions, but it’s high time to implement them.

The Amsterdam pogrom cannot become the new normal in contemporary Europe. Leaders must act now. That means zero tolerance for antisemitic violence, meaningful consequences for perpetrators, and proper training for law enforcement. Anything less is complicity. The next time Jewish fans visit Amsterdam, or any European city, they must be able to walk the streets safely. Our communities deserve nothing less.