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An explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday, in what the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema, described as ‘a deliberate attack against the Jewish community.’ The incident has sparked concerns over global security, particularly in the wake of recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran and a subsequent response from Tehran. The explosion, which caused limited damage to the school in an upscale residential neighborhood on the south side of Amsterdam, is being taken very seriously by authorities. No injuries were reported, and police and firefighters arrived at the scene quickly. Security at synagogues and Jewish institutions in the Dutch capital had already been heightened after an overnight arson attack at a synagogue in the center of Rotterdam on Friday. In neighboring Belgium, an explosion caused a fire at a synagogue in Liege on Monday. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten called the attack in Amsterdam ‘horrible’ and said it understandably caused ‘fear and anger’ in the Jewish community. The safety of Jewish institutions has the full attention of the Dutch government, according to Jetten. This incident is a worrying sign of rising antisemitism, and Jewish people in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with such unacceptable behavior, as noted by Mayor Halsema. The international community, including Pakistan, must condemn such acts of aggression and work towards ensuring the safety and security of all communities, regardless of their faith or background. As the world grapples with the aftermath of recent geopolitical tensions, it is essential to prioritize global security and cooperation to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
