Irish soccer team wears black armbands, refuse to shake Israeli players' hands during match

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced Ireland for consistently being on the "wrong side of history" following the Irish national football team's decision to wear black armbands during their match against Israel. The controversy arose due to the ongoing war in Gaza, which began with the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The match was initially under intense public pressure to be boycotted, but the Irish football association ultimately decided to proceed, with the team wearing the armbands in remembrance of those lost in the conflict. Saar drew a comparison between the Irish team of 1939, who gave the Nazi salute before a match against Germany, and the current team's stance on the Palestinian cause.

He also highlighted Ireland's neutrality during World War II and the condolences offered by then-Prime Minister Éamon de Valera to the German representative following Hitler's death. Ireland recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, and the war in Gaza was sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people and the taking of 251 hostages.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has since led to over 73,900 casualties, according to the Gaza health ministry, figures considered reliable by the United Nations.