Israeli football captain filmed shooting grenade in southern Lebanon

Описание: The Captain of the Israeli football team Hapoel Hadera was filmed shooting a grenade alongside fellow soldiers with the Israeli army as part of their incursion into southern Lebanon.

Israeli Channel 14 aired the footage of Menashe Zalka on Saturday, later sharing it to social media. The footage sparked criticism of Fifa, the international football governing body, following a report shared by Al Jazeera.

There have long been calls for the Israeli Football Association (IFA) to be banned, which were amplified following the onset of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in 2023.
The Palestinian Football Association has complained to Fifa, documenting the IFA’s inclusion of teams from illegally occupied land in the West Bank, the racist and discriminatory behaviour of officials and players, as well as the involvement of players in potential war crimes across Israel’s wars in the region.

The video of Zalka raises questions as to the lack of consequences for soldiers who are able to return to sporting competitions after their potential involvement in violating international law.

Since Hezbollah resumed attacks against Israel following the US-Israeli war on Iran, Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,200 people and a million have been displaced. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said last week that Israel plans to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani river.

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