Staff Reporter.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino wrote to the Israel and Palestine Football Associations on Friday, offering his condolences over the “horrendous violence” in the past week in a conflict that has taken over 2 700 lives so far.
Hamas militants killed more than 1 300 Israelis in their attack on Saturday. In response, Israeli air strikes have killed more than 1 400 people in Gaza so far, authorities there said.
Around 1.1 million people living in northern areas of the Gaza Strip have been told to evacuate within 24 hours by the Israelis ahead of a potential ground offensive.
“I would like to express… our deepest condolences to the Israel Football Association and the Palestine Football Association, in light of the horrendous violence that has been occurring over the past days,” Infantino wrote.
“It is as heart-breaking as it is shocking to see a region whose people have known such profound suffering over far too long, suffer even more.
“The footballing world stands firmly in solidarity with the people of Israel and Palestine, and with all the innocent victims that have paid an unspeakable price.”
Both Fifa and European football’s governing body Uefa have not made any public statements about the conflict. But Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin also wrote to the head of the IFA to express his condolences.
“Fifa joins in calling for the immediate end of hostilities and for the immediate relief of the suffering of the people of both Israel and Palestine,” Infantino added.
“Of course, we know that football cannot solve the problems of the world, but it can play even a small part in bringing a light of hope where there appears to be only darkness ahead.”
Infantino also said that Fifa would offer assistance in relief efforts.
UEFA on Thursday announced the Euro 2024 qualifier between Kosovo and Israel, scheduled for Sunday, had been postponed because of the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Israel’s European Under-21 Championship matches have also been postponed along with an Under-17 mini-tournament in which Israel was due to take part.