Around fifty athletes, including Morocco's Hakim Ziyech and Anwar El Ghazi, have signed a petition under the «Athletes 4 Peace» initiative calling on UEFA to suspend Israel from all competitions over what they describe as «genocide» in Gaza. According to The Times, most UEFA executive committee members are already leaning toward voting for Israel's suspension, with a decision expected next week. Amid mounting international pressure on Israel over its military offensive in Gaza, around fifty athletes, including Moroccan stars Hakim Ziyech and Anwar El Ghazi, have signed a petition calling for the exclusion of all Israeli teams from competitions organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The athletes, acting under the banner of the «Athletes for Peace» initiative, stressed that they come from diverse backgrounds, religions, and beliefs, yet share the conviction that «sports must uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and humanity». In a joint article published on September 26, the signatories denounced what they described as a «genocide» being committed by Israeli forces in Gaza and urged UEFA to bar all teams representing the occupying state from its competitions. The list of signatories also includes French star Paul Pogba, 2018 World Cup champion; Malians Cheick Diabaté and Cheick Doucouré; British boxer Zak Chelli; and British coach Nigel Pearson. UEFA urged to suspend Israel from all competitions The article stated: «Sport cannot stand silent while athletes and civilians including children are indiscriminately killed en masse in Gaza. It is an obligation for sporting bodies to take action against sports teams representing a country which a United Nations commission has concluded is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza». «This is not about politics or taking sides», they further argued. «It's about justice, humanity and the values sport claims to stand for and not allowing nations to whitewash their illegal and inhumane actions through sport». They called on UEFA to «immediately suspend Israel from all competitions until it complies with international law and ends its killing of civilians and the widespread starvation». Meanwhile, The Times reported that a majority of UEFA's executive committee members support suspending Israel's participation, with a decision expected as early as next week. Sources confirmed to the Associated Press that most of the 20 committee members are already inclined to vote in favor of suspending Israeli teams from European competitions.
