The Palestinian people have been subjected to starvation, occupation, dispossession and genocide at the hands of Israel, which has shown no restraint in its onslaught of the Palestine people. The international community has failed to stand up for Palestine for decades and speak up against the heinous crimes of the Israeli State. Israel is not a normal state and must not be treated as such. When Russia invaded Ukraine, both economic and sporting sanctions were imposed, and rightly so. There are many other examples but across the world, governments, FIFA and UEFA in this instance are completely silent when it comes to the genocide in Palestine. They are content to allow Israel to continue to participate as normal. It is a shocking double standard. By participating in this game wherever it is held, we are normalising Israeli genocide and occupation. Ireland has a proud tradition of standing up for human rights on the international stage. We must use every opportunity available to us to stand up for international law. It is time for the Government to finally show some leadership and get behind this campaign to Stop the Game on legal and moral grounds. Stand with the people of Ireland who do not want this game to go ahead. Stand with the people of Palestine who are experiencing genocide. There is a moral obligation on us to do so. On the one hand, the Government says the Israeli State is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people but on the other hand, the Government is content to welcome its sports teams here. Where is the leadership? Where is the Government's moral backbone? It is utter cowardice for the Government to expect Irish players, who are in a really difficult position, to go out and fulfil this fixture but Ministers then publicly announce they will not be attending the game. The Government will send the players out to play the game but it will not even show up on the day to back them up. The reason for that is the Government knows going ahead with this game is the wrong thing to do. The FAI's own members, stakeholders and supporters oppose this game taking place. Sport can send a really strong message and with the support of the Government, the FAI should be empowered to take a moral stance here. The Government should use its conscience and stop this game. The occupied territories Bill will be debated today. The decision to strip that Bill of services is a cynical act by the Government. It knows it is diluting the legislation and by doing so, the Government is completely blunting the measures that are needed to hold the State of Israel to account for its genocidal acts. Start listening to the people, Stop the Game and pass the occupied territories Bill in full.

Sentiment score: 0.01