Israel is not prepared to adequately protect Israeli sports fans abroad, the State Comptroller’s Office concluded in its Security of Israeli Sports Teams and Fans Abroad audit.
The comptroller notes a significant increase in antisemitic events and violence directed at Israelis abroad, and a sharp increase in efforts by terror organizations to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide.
This, in turn, means “the risks to Israeli fans abroad are increasing,” the comptroller said.
One of the main examples given in the audit - which is not publicly available in full - is the incident in Amsterdam during the UEFA Europa League match on November 7, 2024, between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax.
Around 2,700 Israeli fans attended the match, and after the game, groups of Muslims in various parts of the city attempted to physically harm Maccabi fans, resulting in multiple injuries.
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the attack was believed to be a coordinated effort.
The Sports Ministry reported that over 30 injured Israelis were evacuated to hospitals for treatment that night, with many others too afraid to seek medical help and instead stayed in their hotels. The attacks included stabbings, hit-and-runs, and physical violence.
Coined the “Amsterdam Event,” this is considered a turning point in terms of violence against Israeli sports fans, the audit said.
Readiness for a mega-event involving Israelis abroad
Following the Amsterdam Event, several investigations were conducted by the National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry, and the Sports Ministry. These investigations revealed several gaps and made key recommendations.
The inter-ministerial procedure for evacuating Israelis abroad from March 2024 sets out an inter-agency process for collaboration between various bodies to ensure that Israelis abroad can be returned to Israel swiftly in different scenarios. This procedure should be practiced annually under the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry, in coordination with the NSC.
However, the comptroller found that, by August 2025, the Foreign Ministry and the NSC had still not conducted a drill on the inter-ministerial procedure for evacuating Israelis abroad, even though the procedure was supposed to be practiced annually.
Overall, the comptroller said the Amsterdam Event serves as a case study for national readiness in handling emergencies involving Israelis abroad in extreme situations.
It also said that the response during the Amsterdam Event was inadequate, raising concerns about Israel’s readiness to handle large-scale events with numerous casualties.
Given the security situation and the threats to Israelis abroad, the comptroller recommended that the Foreign Ministry review national readiness for a mega-event involving Israelis abroad.
The comptroller also recommended that the NSC review its readiness to evacuate and return Israelis swiftly during an emergency abroad, as the procedure for such evacuations may be assigned to the NSC by the prime minister or political leaders in exceptional cases.