THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Saturday canceled a trip to United Nations climate talks in Azerbaijan so that he can stay in the Netherlands to deal with the fallout from assaults on fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team in Amsterdam that authorities condemned as antisemitic.

The government will discuss the Thursday night violence at a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Schoof posted on X, saying that he would hold talks on tackling antisemitism on Tuesday.

Police launched a large-scale investigation after gangs of youths conducted what Amsterdam’s mayor called “hit and run” attacks on fans that were apparently inspired by calls on social media to target Jewish people. Five people were treated at hospitals and more than 60 suspects were arrested.

Amsterdam prosecutors said that four of the suspects, including two minors, remained jailed Saturday and would be arraigned next week. The prosecutors said in a statement that they expect more arrests as investigators comb through video images of the violence.

None of the arrests made so far were for violence after the match, prosecutors said.

Israeli police assisting the Dutch investigation said in a statement that officers and forensic identification experts met fans returning on nine flights from Amsterdam.

“Among them were over 170 witnesses and more than 230 victims, and forensic evidence has been collected from dozens of them,” the statement said, adding that they also had gathered videos of violent incidents in the Dutch capital.

In addition to the police investigation and an independent inquiry announced by Amsterdam’s mayor, Dutch Justice and Security Minister David van Weel said in a letter to lawmakers that the government is investigating whether warnings of possible violence from Israel were overlooked in the lead up to the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rushed to the Netherlands on Friday and offered Israel’s help in the police investigation. He met Saturday with Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp and with Schoof.

Schoof said on X that he told Saar, “that the Dutch government is doing everything it can to ensure that the Jewish community in our country feels safe.”

In a statement released after meeting, Saar said that he told Schoof that the attacks on Jews and Israelis “and the demand by their attackers they present passports to prove their identity, were reminiscent of dark periods in history. He stressed that Israel could not accept the persecution of Jews and Israelis on European soil.”

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said that the Netherlands’ counterterror watchdog had reported before the match there was no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans, and the match wasn’t considered a high risk.

Even so, Amsterdam authorities banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Johan Cruyff Arena where Thursday night’s match was played. Video also showed a large crowd of Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans on their way to the game. Afterward, youths on scooters and on foot went in search of Israeli fans, punching and kicking them and then fleeing quickly to evade hundreds of police officers deployed around the city, Halsema said.

Schoof returned early from a European Union summit in Hungary and met Friday night with representatives of the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

“It was a compelling conversation about the sadness and uncertainty experienced in the Jewish community. Every day they experience the consequences of growing antisemitism in the Netherlands,” Schoof said on X.

A ban on demonstrations was in place throughout Amsterdam over the weekend, and security was beefed up at Jewish sites in the city, which has a large Jewish community and was home to Jewish World War II diarist Anne Frank and her family as they hid from Nazi occupiers.

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Natalie Melzer contributed to this report from Tel Aviv, Israel.

We’re pausing our coverage for today

We’re pausing our coverage on the Israel-Hamas war for today – but thanks for following along.

As we have been reporting, Israel carried out “extensive strikes” on Gaza overnight after talks to extend the ceasefire with Hamas failed to reach an agreement.

The IDF claimed it was targeting Hamas terrorists and issued evacuation orders for neighbourhoods in Gaza, leaving many to predict a ground invasion is to come. But the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave said more than 400 people had been killed, including women and children, and another 500 injured.

Here’s a recap of what’s happened today:

Israeli military continuing strikes

After a wave of strikes overnight, the Israeli military said it was continuing to strike “terror targets” today belonging to the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant groups in Gaza.

It said the targets struck include “terrorist cells, launch posts, weapons stockpiles, and additional military infrastructure” used to plan and execute attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.

Hostage families criticise Netanyahu claim

The families of Israeli hostages in Gaza criticised claims from the Israeli government that the airstrikes were carried out due to Hamas’s “refusal to release our hostages”.

The office of Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would act against Hamas with “increasing military strength” as a result.

But in response, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum questioned why the government chose to pull out of the previously agreed ceasefire deal.

UK, Saudi Arabia and France among countries condemning Israeli attacks

The UK foreign minister, David Lammy, called Israel’s strikes on Gaza “appalling”, while Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said it denounced Israel resuming strikes on Gaza “in the strongest terms”.

France also condemned the strikes, with the country’s foreign ministry calling for an immediate halt to the violence.

Rafah border crossing closed

The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza in Rafah closed today, a spokesperson for the European Commission said.

The crossing is one of the main points of entry for humanitarian aid going into Gaza.

This afternoon, Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall answered your questions in a Gaza Q&A – you can catch up on what he said here…

ECONOMYNEXT – Israel has asked citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Sri Lanka, leave coastal tourist areas including Arugam Bay and stop overt displays of Hebrew language in clothes or other signs that could lead to identification.

The warning came after the US embassy in Colombo warned citizens not to travel to Arugam Bay in the island’s Eastern Coast as there was credible information of an attack.

Acting police chief Priyantha Weerasooriya told reporters that in October 07, intelligence information was given to Sri Lanka and the matter was discussed by Sri Lanka’s National Security Council.

Related US warns citizens off Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay citing possible attack

“The travel alert for Arugam Bay and the coastal areas in south and west Sri Lanka (including for the cities Ahangame, Galle, Hikkaduwa and Weligama) has been raised to level 4,” the Israel’s National Security Council said in a statement.

“We recommend leaving these areas immediately. For those currently in these areas, we recommend leaving the country or at least traveling to the capital city Colombo, where there is heavier presence of local security forces.”

“For the rest of Sri Lanka, the travel warning has been raised to level 3, and we recommend that Israelis planning to travel to Sri Lanka delay any non-necessary trips to the country.

“If you do travel to Sri Lanka, avoid the areas for which level-4 travel alerts have been issued.”

Israelis were asked to avoid displaying signs that could identify their nationality.

“When in public, avoid openly exhibiting anything that could identify you as Israeli, such as t-shirts with Hebrew writing, or any symbol that discloses your religion or nationality,” the statement said.

“Avoid gatherings of Israeli citizens in public places where there is no security.”

Among places where Israelis gathered in Arugam Bay was Chabad House, a location which offered services to Jewish travelers and Kosher food, according to industry sources.

Sri Lanka’s police said security has been tightened amid a conflict in the Middle East. Any tourist could call a the hotline 1997.

RELATED Sri Lanka boosting tourist security amid Middle East war, police hotline 1997

Israel said its security forces are “in close contact with the Sri Lankan security forces through the relevant organizations, and are monitoring the developments.”

The full statement is reproduced below:

The National Security Council is calling on Israeli citizens to immediately leave Arugam Bay and the south and west coastal areas of Sri Lanka

Today, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the National Security Council (NSC) raised the travel alert level for Sri Lanka due to credible terrorism threats at the tourist and coastal areas:

1…..The travel alert for Arugam Bay and the coastal areas in south and west Sri Lanka (including for the cities Ahangame, Galle, Hikkaduwa and Weligama) has been raised to level 4.

We recommend leaving these areas immediately. For those currently in these areas, we recommend leaving the country or at least traveling to the capital city Colombo, where there is heavier presence of local security forces.

2. For the rest of Sri Lanka, the travel warning has been raised to level 3, and we recommend that Israelis planning to travel to Sri Lanka delay any non-necessary trips to the country. If you do travel to Sri Lanka, avoid the areas for which level-4 travel alerts have been issued.

In addition, the NSC stresses that Israelis in Sri Lanka must exercise increased precaution. Specifically:

• When in public, avoid openly exhibiting anything that could identify you as Israeli, such as t-shirts with Hebrew writing, or any symbol that discloses your religion or nationality.

• Avoid gatherings of Israeli citizens in public places where there is no security.

• Report any suspicion or unusual event to local security forces.

The Israel security forces are in close contact with the Sri Lankan security forces through the relevant organizations, and are monitoring the developments.

Days after reports emerged of Israel’s plan to prepare for ground operation in Lebanon, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked residents to deter all travel plans to the Middle Eastern nation.

Thick clouds of smoke can be seen rising from Beirut following multiple explosions. Photo courtesy: Screengrab from x.com/SkyNews

In a fresh travel advisory release on Saturday, September 28, the MFA said: “In view of the volatile situation in the region, Singaporeans are advised to defer all travel to Lebanon. Singaporeans currently in Lebanon should leave the country immediately via commercial options while they remain available.”

The MFA said those who choose to remain should adhere to the host nation’s policies. “Singaporeans who choose to remain in Lebanon should remain vigilant, monitor local developments closely and heed the advice of the Lebanese government. They should also avoid protests and large gatherings, as well as avoid travel to southern Beirut and southern Lebanon, including the Lebanon-Israel border areas,” it said.

ALSO READ: Israel intensifies airstrikes, preparing for ground operation in Lebanon: Reports

The Ministry has also implored Singaporeans in Lebanon to eRegister with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at their official website, so that they can contact them should the need arise.

Those who need consular assistance while in Lebanon may contact the Singapore Honorary Consulate-General in Beirut or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24 hours) at:

Honorary Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in Beirut

Address: Center Sofil, Charles Malek Avenue

Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon

P.O.Box 166730

Telephone: +961-1-334-335, 200-786, 200-787

Email: singaporeconsulate@cyberia.net.lb

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24 hr)

Address: Tanglin, Singapore 248163

Tel: +65 6379 8800 / 8855Fax: +65 6476 7302

Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg

Lebanon is witnessing an increase in attacks from Israel, who has launched several air raids in its efforts to strike the Hezbollah, a Lebanese Islamist outfit.

ALSO READ: Senior Hezbollah commander Mohammed Hussein Surour killed in airstrike: IDF

The strikes have displaced thousands in the Lebanon, while hundreds have been killed.

Dr Rasha Alawieh was not allowed to enter the US after Fed agents checked her phone at the airport and found photos of Hezbollah leaders.

Alawieh said she attended Nasrallah’s funeral: ‘If you listen to his sermon’

Ivy League institute Brown University has asked its international community to reconsider their foreign travel plans after Dr Rasha Alawieh was denied reentry to the country after her phone was checked at the airport and photos of Hezbollah leaders were found on it. Rasha, a kidney specialist, told the agents who intercepted her that she kept those photos received on WhatsApp for religious reasons, and not for any political reasons. She was, however, not granted entry to the country though she had a valid H-1B visaIn light of the incident, the university sent an email asking all international staff including green card holders to reconsider their vacation. “Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage international students, staff, faculty and scholars — including U.S. visa holders and permanent residents (or ‘green card holders’) — to consider postponing or delaying personal travel outside the United States until more information is available from the US Department of State,” said Russell Carey, Brown’s executive vice president for planning and policy.The email called this a “period of great uncertainty” and said, “We feel it’s imperative to share reminders with Brown’s international community about travel outside the United States and to provide information about available campus resources.”Dr Alawieh was returning from Lebanon when she was stopped by federal agents. It’s not yet known whether they had any prior information about her. On being asked whether she supports Hezbollah and Ayatollah, she said, “I think if you listen to one of his sermons, you would know what I mean.”“He is a religious, spiritual person. As I said, he has very high value. His teachings are about spirituality and morality.”Alawieh said she attended Nasrallah’s February 23 funeral when she was in Lebanon. She stated that Nasrallah was a widely respected religious leader.A Lebanese citizen who was living in Rhode Island, Alawieh was approved for an H-1B visa last year to work in the Division of Nephrology at Brown University’s medical school – after studying at three US universities since 2018. She went to Lebanon for a short visit but got delayed because of her paperwork from the US Consulate in Beirut. Her paperwork was approved March 11, but when Alawieh arrived at the Boston airport two days later, she was immediately detained and told she would be sent back to Lebanon the next day.