Protests disrupt the European Baseball Championship in Rotterdam against Israel's participation
Supporters of Palestine protested at the opening of the European Baseball Championship in Rotterdam on Saturday by blocking the entrance to the Neptunus Baseball Club, where Israel was scheduled to face France in the opening match. About 40 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving Palestinian flags and wearing black and white scarves, and organized a sit-in by moving barriers to prevent entry.
One of the protesters told local media: "We will not allow the Zionists to come to Rotterdam and play baseball. We will do everything we can to stop that." The demonstration was organized by the "Rotterdam Palestine Coalition" (RPC), which clarified that its goal is to oppose the arrival of those it described as "war criminals." The group added that it hopes France will refuse to play against Israel, although it acknowledged that this is unlikely.
Tensions escalated when some activists shouted at fans entering the stadium, accusing them of complicity for attending the match. The fans responded with counter chants. The police escorted the fans inside the venue and their patrols spread to prevent further confrontations. A smoke bomb was also thrown onto the championship ground.
Despite the disturbances, Israeli players continued their training before the match, which took place as planned. Authorities confirmed that further demonstrations will be organized during Israel's upcoming matches on Sunday and Monday, including sit-ins at the entrances of the stadiums.
Mayor Schouten emphasized that the city does not have the authority to exclude teams from international competitions. She said: "The International Olympic Committee is the one that decides which teams participate. As a city, we cannot say who is allowed to play or not."