Sinn Fein urges Israel football match to be called off

Sinn Fein has called for Northern Ireland's friendly international football match with Israel to be cancelled citing ongoing human rights concerns over the country's "slaughter" of Palestinians. 

"Sinn Fein continue to support the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel under which cultural, academic and sporting links fall," MLA Sinead Ennis said. 

“Therefore, I am once again calling on the IFA to cancel this match and send out a strong signal that the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza, breach of international and human rights abuse won’t be tolerated.”

The match is scheduled to take place on September 11 in Belfast. 

The Irish Football Association has to date rejected calls for the match to be cancelled. 

“The Association has no intention of cancelling Northern Ireland’s international challenge match against Israel on 11 September," the IFA spokesperson said. 

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