UN experts call for suspension of Israel from international football
UN experts have called on football’s world governing body FIFA and the European body UEFA to suspend Israel from international football in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded that “sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual”.
“Sporting bodies must not turn a blind eye to grave human rights violations, especially when their platforms are used to normalise injustices,” they said.
They cited the International Court of Justice’s ruling on January 26, 2024, which said that all countries have an obligation to prevent and punish genocide.
⚽️BREAKING⚽️Together with fellow UN Independent Experts, I call on @FIFAWorldCup and @UEFA to suspend Israel from int'l football over the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
Reinstatement can come only when genocide is over, occupation is over, apartheid is over. https://t.co/vINGzK1BcK
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) September 23, 2025
Loud explosions reported near Gaza aid flotilla
Our reporter on board one of the vessels that is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla is reporting an explosion near the fleet while drones fly overhead.
The Marine VHF radios that the ships use are also jammed, our reporter said.
No injuries have been reported yet.
Explosions, unidentified drones and communications jamming. We are witnessing these psychological operations firsthand, right now, but we will not be intimidated.
The lengths to which Israel and its allies will go to prolong the horrors of starvation an… https://t.co/2aKYjo8GWt
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) September 23, 2025
