Claim:
A viral video depicts pro-Palestinian mobs attacking Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam following a Europa League match.
Fact:
The video in question, filmed by Dutch photographer Annet De Graaf, actually shows Israeli soccer fans attacking locals and pro-Palestinian supporters near Amsterdam Central Station. This footage was widely misrepresented by several international media outlets.
Investigation:
- The Incident:
- Violence erupted in Amsterdam after the Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
- Clashes involved Israeli fans, locals, and pro-Palestinian supporters, leading to 62 arrests and five hospitalizations.
- The Video:
- The viral video, originally published by De Graaf on the platform X (formerly Twitter), was shared extensively by major outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Bild, and BBC.
- The footage was used to support claims of pro-Palestinian mobs targeting Israeli fans.
- Key Findings:
- De Graaf clarified that her footage depicted Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attacking locals and pro-Palestinian supporters.
- Another video, recorded by Dutch journalist Ome Bender, corroborates this, showing the same scenes from a different perspective.
- Police investigations have not identified the perpetrators definitively but confirmed the video’s content is under review.
- Media Corrections:
- De Graaf and other social media users called for corrections.
- Outlets like Tagesschau and DW acknowledged misusing the footage and issued corrections.
Conclusion:
The viral video does not show pro-Palestinian mobs attacking Israelis as claimed. Instead, it captures Israeli fans engaging in violence against locals and pro-Palestinian supporters. Misrepresentation of such events highlights the importance of accurate context in reporting.
Verdict: False