Pro-Palestinian Groups Call for Protests Against Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv in Europe

Ahead of their upcoming European matches on Thursday, pro-Palestinian organizations in Switzerland and Italy have organized widespread protests against the Israeli football clubs Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv. These groups are demanding the cancellation of the games and are calling for severe punitive measures, including the complete expulsion of the Israeli teams from UEFA and FIFA competitions.

In Italy, the BDS movement publicly urged the cancellation of Hapoel Tel Aviv's match against Atalanta in Bergamo, arguing that holding the game normalizes Israel's actions and referencing casualties among athletes and children in Gaza. The organization compared the situation to past sanctions imposed on Russia and South Africa.

Meanwhile, in Switzerland, tensions are rising ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv's Conference League playoff match against Lugano. Activists have called for clear and determined protests in the streets under the slogan "Stop the Genocide," rejecting the separation of sports and politics and criticizing the club's supporters for alleged ties to the Israeli military.

Local Swiss politicians have expressed serious security concerns, with members of the Ticino canton parliament requesting clarifications from the State Council on risk assessments and coordination with federal police. They emphasized the importance of preventing racism, anti-Semitism, violence, and incitement to hatred to maintain public order and avoid violent clashes during the planned demonstrations.