Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball game in Italy ends 'without incident' after security warnings

A basketball game between Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv and Virtus Bologna in Italy took place peacefully on Friday after Israeli authorities urged fans to stay home due to heightened safety concerns.

The advice came after violent clashes between Israeli supporters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Amsterdam the previous day.

The EuroLeague match, which Bologna won 84-77, was surrounded by strong security measures.

In light of ongoing threats against Israelis abroad, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office issued a statement warning citizens about potential violence at the game and advised fans to avoid attending and displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols.

These warnings followed violent incidents linked to Maccabi fans in Amsterdam on Thursday.

Tensions Flare in Amsterdam

The unrest began in Amsterdam on Thursday evening when Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters following a Europa League football match between Ajax and Maccabi. Israeli fans were filmed engaging in violent confrontations, including removing Palestinian flags and attacking Arab taxi drivers.

Footage from the scene also showed inflammatory chants, with Maccabi fans yelling slogans like, “There are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left.”

The clashes escalated into wider violence after Ajax's 5-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv, with rioters engaging in pitched battles with police.

Dutch authorities arrested 62 people, and five individuals were hospitalized as a result of the violence.

As a precaution, Amsterdam banned demonstrations for several days and granted police emergency stop-and-search powers.

Security Measures in Italy and Growing Concerns

In response to the violence in Amsterdam, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s game against Virtus Bologna was met with heightened security in Italy.

The city's police chief deployed additional officers to ensure the safety of both teams and the fans. A special escort was also assigned to Maccabi Tel Aviv as part of the precautionary measures.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence and expressed the country's commitment to protecting Jewish citizens, declaring, "Growing anti-Semitism is unacceptable and horrible, and it is our duty to guarantee complete security to all our citizens of the Jewish religion."

Despite these concerns, the game in Bologna went off without incident, with no violence reported at the arena.

Ongoing Tensions Amid Israel-Gaza Conflict

The unrest in Amsterdam and the precautionary measures surrounding the Maccabi Tel Aviv game come amid rising global tensions over the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

Since Israel launched a military operation in Gaza on October 7, over 43,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health officials.

The operation has led to widespread destruction in Gaza, and the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.

On the other hand, Israeli authorities have faced growing international condemnation over their actions in Gaza, with accusations of war crimes and even genocide being levied against them at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Political and Social Ramifications

The violence surrounding the Maccabi Tel Aviv matches reflects the intense political and social divisions fueled by the conflict.

Videos circulating on social media from the Amsterdam clashes, showing Maccabi fans chanting anti-Arab slogans and assaulting individuals, highlight the volatile atmosphere surrounding these events.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the attacks as "anti-Semitic" and assured Israeli officials that the perpetrators would face prosecution.

As Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, the fallout from such confrontations appears to be worsening, with increasing incidents of violence tied to both pro-Palestinian protests and support for Israel.

The escalation has also prompted international calls for greater efforts to protect both Jewish and Palestinian civilians abroad.

In this context, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s game in Bologna stood as a reminder of the larger global tensions at play, with fans and security officials on high alert in response to the unrest spreading across Europe.

While the game itself ended without incident, the broader political and social impacts of the Israel-Gaza conflict continue to be felt in many parts of the world.