France Reinforces Security for Israel Match, Deploying Thousands of Officers
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Raven Ruma
- . November 14, 2024
- . Update: November 15, 2024 1:34 am
Before Thursday’s France-Israel football match, police in Paris are prepared for possible violence, sending one officer for every five people who have tickets to the Stade de France.
Following last week’s hateful and hooliganism incidents in Amsterdam during the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match against Ajax, the game has been labeled as “high risk.”
After pro-Palestinian demonstrators and riot police clashed Wednesday night outside a Parisian gala event that was raising money for the Israeli military created worries about Thursday’s game were raised.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s divisive far-right finance minister was scheduled to appear but later postponed.
Near Saint-Lazare station, police pushed back against dozens of protesters carrying Palestinian flags and setting off fireworks. The reports indicate that tear gas may have been used as officers tried to control the masses.
With less than 20,000 tickets sold for the 80,000-seat stadium for the Uefa Nations League match between France and Israel. It is scheduled to begin at 8.45 p.m. local time (7.45 p.m. UK) and it is not anticipated to draw an impressive crowd. There will only be perhaps 150 Israeli fans.
Approximately 4,000 police officers are anticipated to be on the streets and another 1,500 on public transportation lines despite the poor crowd.
In protest of the match being held during a period of Middle Eastern conflict, a pro-Palestinian demonstration has been planned for Saint-Denis Plaza at 6 p.m. local time.
Middle-East, War, Israel, Palestine, FootBall Match, Saint-Denis Plaza.
