Israel bans entry for most players on Gaza soccer team

By The Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Israel is denying entry to most players on a Gaza soccer team scheduled to play a West Bank team later this week.

Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency says a security check turned up information pointing to “most” of the team’s “links to terrorism.” It did not elaborate.

Gisha, an Israeli rights group, says an Israeli court sided with the state on Monday, meaning Wednesday’s scheduled game is unlikely to take place.

Gazans have lived under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power in 2007 and must seek permits to leave. Critics say these are increasingly harder to come by and are withheld arbitrarily. Israel disputes this and says it grants tens of thousands of permits for Gazans “uninvolved in terror.”

The Associated Press

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today