French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed on Friday that France will host the upcoming UEFA Nations League match against Israel as planned, despite concerns following violent clashes between Israeli and Arab fans in Amsterdam. In a post on the social platform X, Retailleau stated, “France will not back down; doing so would be a concession to violence and anti-Semitism.”
Tensions have risen in France due to the intensifying conflict in Gaza, as the country is home to the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe. Paris is set to host the France-Israel match next Thursday evening, with a significant turnout expected from the Moroccan and Algerian communities, who are anticipated to show their support for Palestine.
In a recent Champions League game, Paris Saint-Germain fans displayed a massive banner reading “Free Palestine,” highlighting the charged atmosphere around the upcoming event.
Meanwhile, Dutch Justice Minister David van Vil voiced concerns in a letter to parliament, noting an ongoing investigation into whether Israel had issued warnings about potential threats to Israeli fans in Amsterdam, which may have been overlooked. The incident involved supporters of Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, who were in the Dutch capital for a game against Ajax Amsterdam.
Van Vil’s letter, sent late Friday evening, confirmed, “The investigation into potential warning signals from Israel is still ongoing.”
Five individuals were injured in the Amsterdam attack on Thursday night and were treated at the hospital, with all released by Friday. Dutch police reported on Saturday that four people remain in custody out of the 63 initially detained.
