On the eve of the World Cup, it is worth remembering the immense potential for good that sport, and particular football, can have in the world. Much of what we will see in the coming weeks will be the global community coming together to cheer on their teams in the spirit of friendly competition and comradery. While the power of sport can be used for good, the same power can be usurped and used to obfuscate and distract from great wrong, from corruption and abuse, and even from the greatest crimes against humanity. It can be used by regimes that want to pretend that they are normal and are operating within the bounds of international laws and norms. Let us be clear: there is nothing normal about the regime in Israel. War crimes are not normal. Apartheid and indefinite occupation are not normal. Genocide is not normal. An Israeli Government headed by extreme ethnonationalists is not normal. With its flagrant and consistent breach of international norms, Israel has abdicated its right to be treated like a normal state. The Gaza genocide has inflicted untold horrors on the Palestinian people. It has also seen incredible moments of defiance and courage from aid workers who have attended the wounded and hungry, journalists who have borne witness to the brutality of the Israeli regime and the brave activists who have sailed into the path of a military with no respect for international law. We have seen it in the refusal of many Jewish people around the world not to allow this onslaught to be carried out in their name. We have seen that courage most clearly in the resilience of the Palestinian people, who have refused to give up the hope for self-determination. It is this bravery that should impinge on the Government's conscience when it comes to the Nations League fixture against Israel. There will be consequences, fines and penalties imposed by UEFA but do any of these stack up against the horrors of Gaza or against the incredible bravery of those who are persecuted?

Sentiment score: 0.15