The Football Association of Ireland has officially confirmed it will host Israel on October 4 in a Nations League match at a neutral venue, with no spectators. The association's statement cited 'deep disappointment at the suffering caused to civilians in Gaza' — language that does not distinguish between Hamas and Palestinian civilians.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) on Friday issued an official statement confirming it will host Israel's national team in the Nations League on October 4 at a neutral venue without spectators. The decision follows earlier reports, covered by The Zioneer as BACKGROUND in June, that Ireland had refused to host the match on its soil. The FAI's formal wording cited deep disappointment at the suffering to civilians in Gaza — a formulation The Zioneer notes fails to differentiate between the Hamas terror organization and Palestinian civilians, a distinction the Israeli government and many Western allies maintain. No details on the neutral venue have been released. The Israeli Football Association has not yet responded publicly.
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