Published By: Ritayan Basu
Last Updated: November 13, 2023, 14:28 IST
Israel’s soccer crew took the sector for the primary time for the reason that October 7 Hamas massacres and the beginning of the conflict in Gaza, shedding 1-0 in Kosovo in a delayed Euro 2024 qualifier on Sunday.
The sport in Pristina, initially scheduled for October 15, was performed beneath heavy safety. Kosovo is predominantly Muslim but additionally an in depth ally of the United States and has good diplomatic relations with Israel.
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The match, which drew a small crowd on a wet night time, went off and not using a hitch.
Impressive safety measures had been in place across the stadium earlier than and throughout the match, together with the deployment of particular police models.
The Israeli crew’s convoy to the stadium was additionally notably carefully watched because it travelled via town.
“We see scenes with children, and we have experienced war ourselves,” Driton Ajeti, a 37-12 months-previous lawyer, advised AFP.
“We are opposed to the events we are witnessing, but today we have come for the sport, and everything else is decided elsewhere.”
Gezim Hasi, a forty five-12 months-previous barman, agreed: “We shouldn’t be getting involved in politics, just sport.”
Kosovo gained thanks to a forty first-minute aim by Milot Rashica, who performs for Besiktas in Turkey.
Romania lead Group I, some extent forward of Switzerland. Israel stayed third, 4 factors behind the Swiss and some extent forward of Kosovo.
Just a few hours earlier than the match, a big Palestinian flag bearing the inscription “Free Palestine” was unfurled on the facade of a lodge in Pristina metropolis centre by feminist activists, earlier than being shortly eliminated by the police.
The unprecedented Hamas assault left round 1,200 useless on the Israeli aspect, principally civilians killed on October 7, in accordance to the most recent official Israeli figures, whereas 42 troopers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel started floor operations in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli navy estimates some 240 individuals had been taken hostage into the Gaza Strip throughout the preliminary Hamas assault. Among these captives there are a minimum of 30 kids, in accordance to Israeli media.
Israel’s relentless marketing campaign in response has killed a minimum of 11,180 individuals in Gaza, additionally principally civilians and together with 4,609 kids, in accordance to the Hamas authorities’s media workplace.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)
