FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Pro-Palestinian Protesters approached the gates of the Italy soccer team’s training center on Friday to demand an upcoming World Cup qualifier against Israel is not played because of the war in Gaza.

The protest was part of a national strike by more than two million people up and down the peninsula, according to the nation’s largest union. The protesters were also reacting to an aid mission blocked by Israeli forces.

Italy is scheduled to host Israel in Udine on Oct. 14. UEFA had been considering suspending Israel over the war. The players were not at the Coverciano training center in Florence but the squad will convene there on Monday.

Protesters appeared to behave peacefully on the opposite side of the street from the soccer complex, holding aloft a banner t

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