A panel of experts appointed by the United Nations has called for Israel to be kicked out of international football competitions.
In a statement, the eight-person group said the action was a "necessary response to address the ongoing genocide in the Occupied Palestinian Territory".
"Sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual," the statement reads. "National teams representing states that commit massive human rights violations can and should be suspended."
In particular, the panel addressed the role of international football governing bodies, such as UEFA and FIFA, which it said are bound by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The experts were keen to clarify that the call targets the state of Israel and not individual players, saying: "We have always maintained that individuals cannot bear the consequences of the decisions their government makes."
It comes a week after a report published by an independent UN commission concluded that Israel has committed, and continues to commit, genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel categorically rejected the report, denouncing it as "distorted and false".
In recent days, Israeli media outlets have reported that Qatar, a major sponsor of UEFA, is pushing for a vote to be held on expelling Israel from certain events. At present, there has been no confirmation that such a meeting is due to take place.
As Israel continues its deadly assault of Gaza, critics have increasingly called for its sporting teams to be sidelined from international events - as Russia has been since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022
Last week, Bohemians FC joined several other clubs and sporting associations in calling for the immediate suspension of Israel from European football.
In a letter, the north Dublin club, alongside non-profit FairSquare and Irish Sport for Palestine, cited "matches in illegal settlements" and "racism and discriminatory conduct" as the two grounds it said were sufficient to trigger the suspension.
In response to criticism earlier this year, the Israel Football Association (IFA) said its teams and athletes would not be deterred from participating in global sports events.
