Amsterdam court jails man for attack on bystanders at pro-Palestinian protest

A 37-year-old man has been given a one-month prison sentence for attempting to seriously injure two bystanders at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Amsterdam on May 6, 2024. The Amsterdam District Court also ordered him to pay the two victims more than 2,000 euros in damages combined.

Samer A. struck both victims over the head with a wooden plank during a clash between two groups. One suffered multiple head injuries, while the other sustained a fractured skull. Both are still dealing with physical and psychological effects of the attack. The court added that the violence had fuelled wider feelings of insecurity and unrest in society.

The man was among those taking part in a demonstration at the University of Amsterdam's Roeterseiland campus. Protesters called on the university to cut all ties with Israel, setting up tents and a barricade on the site. The demonstration was interrupted when a group of masked men arrived with flares, sparking clashes in which people on both sides exchanged blows.

The two victims were bystanders who had been watching the clash and had no involvement in the group that disrupted the demonstration. The court did not accept the man's argument that he was defending himself.

Last year, A. received a prison sentence on appeal for vandalizing the university building on May 13, 2024. The case is still being considered by the Supreme Court. He was also convicted of public violence earlier this year.

A. describes himself as a public figure in the LGBTQ+ community and an advocate for refugees.