In a demonstration of protest, Italian fans turned their backs while the Israeli national anthem was played before the UEFA Nations League match between Italy and Israel on Sunday.
The game, held at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest, ended with Italy emerging victorious 2-1. The venue was chosen as a neutral ground due to security concerns in Israel.
The Italian municipality of Udine, which is slated to host the next match between the two teams on 14 October, had previously voiced hesitations about hosting the event due to security issues and political sensitivities related to Israel’s actions against Palestinians.
Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza, now nearing its one-year mark, has resulted in the deaths of approximately 41,100 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and left nearly 94,800 injured, according to local health sources. Israel is also facing allegations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning its actions in the Gaza Strip.
