Irish Pro-Palestinian Protesters Demand National Team Boycott Israel Match

Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, calling for the Irish national football team to boycott its upcoming match against Israel. The game is scheduled to take place in Serbia on Sunday at 9:45 PM, behind closed doors. The protest is part of a campaign called "Stop the Game," launched in response to the war in Gaza. This demonstration occurs shortly before Ireland's home match against Austria in the Nations League. Local fans also plan to send a message to the Irish players, urging them to boycott the match against Israel. Ireland and Israel already played on the previous Sunday, with Ireland winning 3-0 in a match held in Debrecen, Hungary. The second match was originally slated for Ireland but was moved to a neutral venue and will be played without spectators. The official reason given by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) was "operational challenges," but the decision is widely seen as a result of protests in Ireland. Notably, Ireland's second-choice goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu, announced last Saturday that he would not participate in the first match due to his conscience. Another demonstration was organized by the Irish-Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which planned a protest near the stadium before the Austria game, targeting what they term "shameful games." The IPSC stated that "the message to the Irish Football Association and the government is clear, the vast majority of the Irish people oppose these games."