Italian Authorities Engage in Tense Standoff with Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators Before ‘israel’ Football Match

In a significant security operation, more than 1,000 police officers and military personnel were deployed, with helicopters and drones providing aerial surveillance over a protest situated several kilometers from Bluenergy Stadium, where the Group I match took place. Italy emerged victorious with a 3-0 win.

Numerous shops and restaurants opted to close their doors on Tuesday, while those choosing to remain open were subjected to stringent regulations. These measures included the mandatory removal of outdoor furniture and any objects that could potentially serve as weapons.

The Committee for Palestine-Udine has issued a call to FIFA, urging the international soccer governing body to ban Israel from participating in all competitions. The organizers assert that the Israeli team supports “occupation policies” in the Palestinian territories.

Demonstrators unfurled an 18-meter Palestinian flag alongside a prominent red banner bearing the rallying slogan, “Show Israel the red card.” A metal sculpture, embodying the theme of justice, was depicted holding scales in one hand and a red card in the other, adding symbolic weight to the protest.

Protesters took to the streets, vocalizing chants such as “Free Palestine” and “Genocidal Israel.”

Demonstrator Valentina Bianchi expressed her sentiments, saying, “Although a ceasefire has been declared, true peace remains elusive. As I highlighted on my placard, genuine peace is unattainable without justice.”

Tensions escalated when demonstrators attempted to breach police cordons en route to the stadium, sparking clashes. Law enforcement officials responded with water cannons and tear gas as protesters retaliated by hurling metal barriers, other objects, and launching flares.

According to reports from public broadcaster RAI and the Ansa news agency, two journalists sustained injuries during the skirmishes. One of the journalists required hospitalization, while the other suffered less severe injuries amidst the clashes.

The Italian Football Federation reported that ticket sales for the upcoming qualifier match against Israel at the Stadio Friuli, which has a capacity of 25,000 seats, have fallen short, with fewer than 10,000 tickets purchased.

Italy’s coach, Gennaro Gattuso, reflected on a challenging day for the team, stating, “Today wasn’t easy for us. Honestly, it wasn’t easy… for many days, we were constantly contemplating the possibility of not playing the match.”

Gattuso stated, “We arrived and prepared for the occasion, fully aware that the atmosphere was not one of celebration. We could definitely sense it.”

During the playing of the Israeli national anthem, a section of the audience expressed their disapproval with audible boos.

The Israeli military has continued its aggressive operations in Gaza since October 7, 2023, disregarding international calls for a ceasefire. The ongoing conflict has led to the deaths of over 67,869 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children.

The ongoing airstrikes have devastated the region, leading to severe food shortages.