Israeli incitement against public solidarity with Palestine in the Champions League

The Israeli incitement against any event supporting the Palestinian people continues, as a Hebrew newspaper criticized the public's solidarity with Palestine in the UEFA Champions League. The newspaper claims that this solidarity constitutes hate propaganda against the occupying state, exploiting sporting events to spread political messages.

The "Israel Hayom" newspaper reported that the UEFA Champions League qualifiers have reached a critical stage, where the stands have been used to raise banners accusing the occupation of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. It noted that this phenomenon is not new, but rather recurs in matches held in countries like Turkey and Scotland.

In recent matches, Fenerbahçe fans raised a banner saying: "Stop the genocide in Gaza, free Palestine," reflecting the growing support for Palestine in sports circles. Celtic fans in Glasgow also joined this campaign, raising pro-Palestine slogans during a qualifying match.

The newspaper highlighted that Israeli players Dan Glazer and Ofir Marciano were subjected to pro-Palestine chants, making them feel pressured during the match. The two players were forced to confront Palestinian flags that were waving in the stadium.

Hours before the qualifying match began, protests started in Glasgow, where banners condemning the occupation were raised. One of these slogans was: "Give Israel, which commits genocide, a red card," reflecting the extent to which sporting events impact political issues.

The newspaper pointed out that Celtic fans expressed their support for Palestinian terrorism, as their Israeli striker Liel Abada was expelled, forcing him to move to the MLS. These events indicate a rise in tensions between sports and politics in the Palestinian context.