Israel Continues in Europa League Amid Controversial Gaza Situation and Calls for Sanctions
Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club is slated to play in the UEFA Europa League against Dynamo Kyiv, despite growing international criticism and calls for Israeli teams to be banned from European football in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza1. Meanwhile, the European Union remains divided over sanctioning Israel for its actions in Gaza23456.
International Critique and Calls for Boycott
Rights groups and fans around the world have accused the Israeli team of inappropriate behavior, including alleged attacks on pro-Palestinian protesters and acts of vandalism1. Dima Said, a spokesperson for the Palestine Football Association, claimed that FIFA’s suspension of Russia's teams over its invasion of Ukraine highlights double standards when it comes to Palestinian lives1.
Meanwhile, Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon condemned the EU's inaction towards Israel, describing the situation in Gaza as genocidal7. Fajon compared the EU's response to Israel with its swift sanctions against Russia, accusing the bloc of failing to respond to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza7.
International Reactions and Counteractions
In response to the situation, several countries have taken a stance against Israel. Türkiye, for instance, has severed all commercial and economic ties with Israel and closed its airspace to some Israeli flights8. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen indicated his government's support for suspending trade agreements with Israel9.
However, the EU remains divided on the issue, with EU foreign policy chief expressing pessimism about the bloc agreeing on sanctioning Israel1011. The foreign ministers of the union, who met in Copenhagen, were unable to agree on any proposals6.
Dire Situation in Gaza
Amid the political tension, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Israel plans to slow or halt aid into parts of northern Gaza as it expands its offensive1213. Additionally, Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly ordered a siege on Gaza City, saying anyone who doesn’t flee 'can die of hunger or surrender'14.
Unicef spokesperson Tess Ingram referred to Gaza as the most dangerous place in the world for children
, reporting a child is injured or killed every 10 minutes in Gaza15.
In the face of international condemnation and the increasing humanitarian crisis, Israel's participation in the Europa League and the EU's stance on potential sanctions remain controversial topics on the global stage.