Israel urges fans to skip ‘high risk’ football match against France after Amsterdam violence, says ‘avoid Paris…’

Israel has urged fans to avoid Thursday’s France-Israel football match, fearing it could become a flashpoint after recent violence in Amsterdam involving an Israeli team. Despite a strong police presence and French President Macron's attendance, Israeli officials warned fans on Sunday of potential targeting.

At least 10 Israeli soccer fans were injured when a mob of rioters shouting "Free Palestine" attacked them in Amsterdam on Wednesday night, prompting authorities to advise Israelis in the Dutch capital not to leave their hotels. Videos circulating on social media showed masked rioters, several of whom carried Palestinian flags, kicking and punching Israelis.

The violence was condemned as “anti-Semitic" by Israeli, US, Dutch and European leaders. Police said they had made more than 60 arrests.

Following the Amsterdam violence, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the Mossad spy agency to draw up a plan to prevent unrest at events abroad.

‘France-Israel fixture as high risk’

Meanwhile, ahead of the Nations League tie beween France and Israel, a right-wing Jewish group has announced a rally. 

Paris police chief Laurent Nunez noted France-Israel fixture as high risk and decided to deploy 4,000 gendarmes around the Stade de France, on public transport and across the French capital.

“We will not tolerate any overspill or disturbances to public order," he added.

In Jerusalem, the National Security Council on Sunday urged Israeli fans to “avoid attending sports games/cultural events involving Israelis, with an emphasis on the upcoming match of the Israeli national team in Paris".

Organizations planning attacks against Israel have been identified in several European cities, including Paris. Nationals were cautioned to avoid displaying recognizable Israeli or Jewish symbols. This warning comes amidst a surge in anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim incidents following the onset of Israel's conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli authorities had warned fans against attending a Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball match in the Italian city of Bologna on Friday, which ended without incident.