Two Israeli tourists have been hospitalised after being beaten by a group who were allegedly shouting “kill the Jews” while paintballing at a Center Parcs in the Netherlands, with one left unconscious.
A witness who took part in the paintball game has claimed that the group were “Dutch people of Arab origin” and shouted “Free Palestine” alongside telling the Israelis that “we will get to your children”.
The incident occurred at the Center Parcs De Kempervennen in the southern village of Westerhoven
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In total, four Israeli tourists had been left injured during the incident at the paintballing game, which started after the “family of ten” allegedly threw stones and sand at them.
Dutch police have confirmed that a 15-year-old boy from Utrecht has been arrested with an investigation into the incident continuing.
Center Parcs claimed that there were no cameras which captured the violent attack, however a witness told the Israeli media outlet Ynet that “from the first moment they were violent” when describing the alleged perpetrators.
An Israeli tourist is believed to have left bleeding and unconscious after being punched, kicked and pinned down to the floor after asking the family to stop being violent.
Dutch police have confirmed that a 15-year-old boy from Utrecht has been arrested
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Two of the tourists’ family members were attacked when attempting to get the alleged perpetrators away from the injured Israeli.
The witness added: “This is a very big trauma for us and especially for the children who were there.”
They also claimed one of the injured family members was a senior doctor, who said that the other injured Israeli would have been killed had the assault carried on for a short while longer.
According to Dutch police, the fight had started after a dispute on the rules of the paintball game with punches and threats dished out before the authorities stepped in to break it up.
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The incident has sparked a furious response from the Israeli government, who told the Netherlands to ‘come to its senses’
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The incident has sparked a furious response from the Israeli government, who told the Netherlands to “come to its senses and act resolutely to prevent attacks on Israelis in its territory, to locate the criminals, and to bring them to justice”.
The violent attack comes after activists took to social media to fume about “Zionists” staying at a different Dutch Center Parcs location.
One post said: “Over a hundred of citizens of the Zionist Entity are staying at Center Parcs de Eemhof, Zeewolde this week.
“Who is screening these people traveling to the EU visa-free? Are they complicit in war crimes and genocide by the Zionist Entity?
“If all else fails: mobilise, show them we see them, and make clear they are NOT welcome.”
A spokesman from the Israeli embassy in The Hague said: “This is not the first time that Israelis visiting the Netherlands were violently attacked. The sequence of actions is very alarming.
“We expect the Dutch authorities to take urgent measures to protect Israelis and Jews in the Netherlands.
“Intimidation and violence against people because of their background is unacceptable.”
