Police bans pro-Palestine protest ahead of Sunday's Kosovo-Israel football match

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – Kosovo police have banned a pro-Palestine protest planned ahead of Sunday's football match between Kosovo and Israel.

Pristina-based Albanian nacionale online news reported that Kosovo police have banned pro-Palestine rallies before the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying tournament game between Kosovo and Israel.

Following the ban on a pro-Palestine rally by the police, people took to social media to call for a complete boycott of the match ticket sales.

''There are no conditions in terms of security for allowing the protest," the media outlet reported, quoting a police statement.

In coordination with the Football Association of Kosovo (FSK), the statement said, relevant authorities took the necessary measures to ensure the smooth running of the football match.

"The road around the stadium will be closed to vehicle traffic, only pedestrian movement will be allowed.”

“The Kosovo police will be stationed at the security perimeter and the audience will not be allowed to carry unauthorized or dangerous items at the entrance gates," said the statement.

The match will be played at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina.

This will be the first appearance of the Israeli national team abroad since the beginning of the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The match was supposed to be played on Oct. 15, but UEFA postponed it due to the conflict.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip -- including hospitals, residences, and houses of worship -- since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.