'Like a battlefield': The real story behind the Tel Aviv derby violence

The violence that led to the cancellation of the derby football match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sunday was started and escalated by a brutal, politically motivated Israeli police force, eyewitnesses have told Middle East Eye.

The sources, including sports analysts, local residents and football fans, all said that police violence has severely escalated since the appointment of the ultranationalist settler leader Itamar Ben Gvir as national security minister in 2022.

As the government Ben Gvir sits in has waged genocide in Gaza and enforced a brutal military occupation of the West Bank, Israeli football has come under increasing scrutiny.

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, in particular, have been the focus of a media storm since England's West Midlands Police banned the supporters from attending a Europa League match with Aston Villa on 6 November, citing severe security concerns.

On previous trips to Europe, Maccabi's fans have celebrated the Gaza genocide, incited violence against local residents and sung racist songs.

Israeli police said they cancelled the game because of “public disorder and violent riots” that led to 12 civilians and three police officers sustaining injuries, with one admitted to hospital, as well as to the arrest of nine people after smoke grenades and pyrotechnics were thrown. 

But sports journalists and football fans who witnessed the events told MEE that the police instigated the violence and wounded up to 70 civilians. They also said Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were not to blame. 

Read more: The real story behind the Tel Aviv derby violence