Israeli fans who have traveled to Spain to watch the Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Gran Canaria basketball game on Friday evening are urged to take extra precautions, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Thursday night.
This includes staying away from anti-Israel demonstrations, avoiding traveling alone, and toning down displays of team symbols (such as scarves, shirts, flags, etc.) and Israeli and Jewish symbols when outside the stadium.
In the event of an emergency, the Foreign Ministry asked fans to follow local media and act in accordance with the instructions of the authorities.
For immediate assistance, they can contact the Israeli Embassy in Madrid via its 24/7 emergency hotline at +34 636 713 000, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Situation Room at +972 2 530 3155.
The advisory also encouraged fans to review additional safety guidelines available on the Israeli National Security Council’s website.
The Amsterdam pogrom
In November 2024, violent attacks on Israelis in Amsterdam followed the Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Ajax Amsterdam soccer match, leaving several wounded, three people missing, and prompted a shelter-in-place warning for Jewish and Israeli individuals in the city.
The clashes escalated as Israeli soccer fans were violently assaulted by Turkish supporters ahead of the match.
Footage circulating on social media showed fans being beaten, chased with knives, and narrowly avoiding being hit by vehicles. Eyewitnesses said that they had seen attempted stabbings, people thrown in a river, and extremists beating and spitting on Israelis.
According to Maariv, there had been at least one attempt at kidnapping an Israeli, and many have barricaded themselves in stores and buildings for safety.
Local authorities and Israel’s Foreign Ministry reported that ten Israelis had been injured in the attack.
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
