An unusual anti-Israel protest took place in France on Monday, demanding a boycott of the Israeli national soccer team ahead of their upcoming match against the French.
The team is scheduled to face France on November 14, for the fifth round of League B in the UEFA Nations League, hoping to secure their first point after four matches in the top tier of the competition and under coach Ron Ben Shimon.
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Pro-Palestinain protestors inside French Football Federation offices
(Photo: Screengrab)
Due to the war in Israel and the protests against it across Europe, the first match between the teams, which ended in a 4-1 defeat for Israel, took place in Hungary under heavy security.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists stormed the offices of the French Football Federation, barricading themselves in the building. Alongside songs and protest displays, they demanded to cancel the upcoming match, claiming that "Israel is committing war crimes."
They held signs reading "No to the France-Israel match," "Champions League of genocide," and called on FIFA to ban Israel from participating in its various competitions ("kick Israel out").
The match was defined by French authorities as "high-risk," even before the incident. In September, the Belgian national team hosted Israel in Hungary without fans due to similar concerns, citing "fears of unrest."
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