"Beware of war criminals - report to us": Anti-Israeli flyer distributed in Amsterdam
Flyers distributed in Amsterdam ahead of the Pride Parade called for boycotting Israeli artists and reporting their whereabouts. The publication included personal details of three Israelis labeled as 'war criminals.' The RITA organization, whose name was misused in the flyer, distanced itself from the campaign.
A flyer distributed last week in Amsterdam, ahead of the city's Pride Parade, called on residents to report Israelis and boycott events featuring Israeli artists. The publication, circulated primarily on social media, included personal details of those targeted for boycott under the headline: 'Beware of war criminals - protect your community.'
During the parade on Saturday, a person was documented snatching an Israeli flag from a participant and fleeing. The flyer presented the names and photos of three Israelis, along with the locations and dates where they were allegedly expected to be.
'Do you also refuse to celebrate with war criminals? Above are examples of people who support this violent organization (referring to the IDF), and the areas where they might be found at the moment - but many others are in the city,' the publication stated.
Readers were instructed to 'report within 5 minutes via a link to a reporting site of an organization named RITA.' At the bottom of the flyer, readers were also directed to learn about the radical Hind Rajab Foundation, known for its activities against IDF soldiers.
Following the distribution of the documents, the RITA organization published a statement clarifying that it had no connection to the move.
'During the last few days, a flyer has been distributed using RITA's name, its logo, and its reporting form - without our permission,' the organization stated. 'RITA had no part in the creation or distribution of this flyer.' The organization emphasized that they are an independent reporting platform for discrimination and harassment, and that the unauthorized use of their visual identity created public deception.
'The unauthorized use of our name and visual identity creates confusion and does not reflect what RITA stands for. Our focus remains on what it was established for: to be an independent reporting platform for people who experience discrimination, harassment, or unsafe situations,' the statement read.
Since October 7, there has been an increase in antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents in the Netherlands, led by the severe violence in November 2024, in which fans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv team were attacked, alongside stormy demonstrations and damage to community institutions.
