Oslo, pro-Palestine demonstration before Norway-Israel match

Milan, Oct. 11 (LaPresse/AP) – Pro-Palestinian demonstrators set off flares and waved flags as they marched to the stadium in Oslo ahead of the World Cup qualifier between Norway and Israel. Norway’s public broadcaster NRK reported about 1,000 protestors arrived from the city center to Ullevaal Stadion, planning to stay until the match began at 6:00 p.m. local time. A banner referencing the war in Gaza was carried by protestors in what appeared to be a peaceful march. Only 3,000 spectators were admitted to the match, despite strict security checks. On Friday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino called for calm ahead of Israel’s World Cup qualifiers, after Israel and Hamas reached a peace agreement. Israel will also face Italy in Udine on Tuesday, where another pro-Palestine demonstration is expected. Last week, pro-Palestinian protestors approached Italy’s national team training camp in Florence province, calling for the match to be canceled as part of a nationwide strike that saw millions of activists rally in the streets.