On Friday evening, a manhunt was launched in the Netherlands to track down suspects responsible for a bombing attack targeting Christians supportive of the Jewish State.
The explosive was planted at the front doors of a building belonging to a Dutch Christian organization (Christenen voor Israel), which seeks to stand “in solidarity with Israel and combat all forms of antisemitism.” The group frequently features Pro-Israel lectures and sells Israeli-made products, helping to support the Jewish community, combat false information against the Jewish State, and counteract anti-Israel boycotts.
While the attack sparked outrage among officials in the nation, the most pointed comments came from the Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands, Zvi Vapni, who warned that the bombing was “not an isolated incident.”
“First, Jews were intimidated and attacked in the Netherlands. Now Christians who support Israel are being targeted too,” he emphasized, urging police to swiftly track down the person(s) accountable.
The rise of antisemitism in the Netherlands was on full display, especially among the muslim population, in November of 2024, when Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam became the victims of a horrific pogrom. Jews were chased and brutally attacked in the streets by mobs, while others hid in nearby shops, awaiting the emergency planes en route from Israel to evacuate them.
In the eyes of many, it was a turning point in Europe’s increasingly antisemitic landscape—closely and disturbingly echoing the Jewish experience in the early 20th century. As the Israeli ambassador detailed, the bombing of a Pro-Israel Christian organization is another bone-chilling step for the nation and continent.
Antisemitism expert, Olivier Melnick, refers to it as “Collateral Antisemitism,” highlighting, “you no longer need to be Jewish to be a target of Jew-hatred.”
Melnick recounted another disturbing recent incident in Europe, in which Pro-Palestinian activists in England went door-to-door recording the names of those who refused to support a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.
“This is not activism; this is intimidation,” Melnick stressed. “We are again seeing the 1930s and 40s being reenacted in front of our eyes. Supporters of the Jews and Israel are taking a stand and understanding the risk in doing so.”
Trusted ministry leaders such as Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel are urging Christians to choose boldness over silence, taking a Biblical stand to defend and support Israel and the Jewish people—no matter the risk and opposition.
“The Israeli people have been the target of hate, oppression, murder, and genocide throughout history,” Hamrick underscored. “Hitler’s attempted annihilation of the Jews during World War II took an estimated 6 million Jewish lives. Satan has been inciting nations and people to hate Israel ever since the tiny Jewish nation became the conduit for God’s redemptive plan for mankind.”
“Make no mistake—this is a spiritual battle,” he wrote. “Satan incites antisemitism, and antisemitism is satanic. And no one bears more responsibility in the fight against antisemitism than the church.”
Melnick further shared a similar conclusion, stating: “Collateral antisemitism is a real thing. It might be the price to pay for those who stand with Israel, but knowing that standing with Israel means we stand with God, why should Christians have it any other way?”
