Brussels declines invitation for the Nations League clash featuring Belgium and Israel.
Amidst apprehensions about sizeable protests linked to the Gaza Conflict, Brussels declined the proposition to stage a Nations League football encounter between Belgium and Israel. Such an event, as stated by city officials on a Wednesday, would ignite massive demonstrations and counter-protests, thereby jeopardizing the safety of spectators, players, city residents, and even the police.
The Belgian football body, URBSFA, expressed disappointment over Brussels' rejection, noting that the game, initially scheduled for September 6, could have proceeded without a live audience. "We express our dismay at the Brussels City Administration's decision - with a rich history of managing large-scale events - for turning down our hometown for the match," URBSFA said in a statement. With several cities and security officials, URBSFA is currently engaging in discussions to find an alternative venue, as Leuven has already confirmed its unwillingness to host the match.
Belgium, alongside Israel, France, and Italy, competes in UEFA's Nations League Group A2. The local Muslim community, particularly in Brussels, makes up a significant portion of the population. Tensions flared between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with the former launching a military campaign in response to a large-scale Hamas attack on October 7. Islamic extremists reportedly claimed the lives of 1194 people and abducted 251 others as prisoners in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli reports.
In response, Israel has been actively engaged in military operations within the Gaza Strip since October. Casualty figures, as reported by Hamas-controlled health ministry (unverifiable independently), stand at over 37,300 fatalities thus far. The humanitarian condition in the Palestinian territories is critically dire.
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- Despite the large demonstrations that typically accompany discussions about Israel and the Gaza Conflict, Brussels' fear of potential unrest led to their decline of hosting the Nations League match between Belgium and Israel.
- The decision by Belgium, a nation with a significant Muslim population in Brussels, to not host the Nations League match against Israel, stems from the large-scale demonstrations and fears of escalating tensions connected to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
- The exclusion of Israel from the Nations League match in Brussels, due to the anticipated fear and large demonstrations linked to the escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip, has caused disappointment among football officials in both Belgian and Israeli clubs.
