Israeli minister compares Irish team to 1939 squad that gave Nazi salute
Ireland's squad voted to play their Nations League match with Israel despite a boycott but wore black armbands in memory of all lives lost in the Gaza war.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar recently criticized Ireland, stating that the country remains on the "wrong side of history," following the Irish football team's decision to wear black armbands during their match against Israel. This gesture was in solidarity with the ongoing war in Gaza. The Irish Football Association faced significant public pressure to boycott the Nations League match, but ultimately, the team chose to participate while wearing the armbands.
Saar drew a disturbing parallel between this act and the actions of the Irish football team in 1939, which included giving the Nazi salute before a match against Germany. He also highlighted Ireland's historical neutrality during World War II and the condolences extended by then-Prime Minister De Valera upon Hitler's death. Saar concluded by asserting that the Irish team's current stance on the Palestinian cause, which includes recognizing a Palestinian state in 2024, is akin to supporting "Palestinian terrorism."
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