Thousands of police officers will be deployed around Paris ahead of a soccer game between France and Israel to prevent violence similar to what occurred in Amsterdam last week. Tensions are high in Europe due to Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Paris police will have 4,000 officers on duty for the match, with 2,500 around the stadium and 1,500 elsewhere in the city. Only French and Israeli flags will be allowed inside the stadium, with drones being used to monitor crowds. The National Gendarmerie will have patrol teams assigned to metro lines. Attendance at the game is expected to be low due to security concerns. Protests are expected near the stadium, with one group calling for a ban on Israel’s participation in sports events. The increased security measures come after violence at a previous match in Amsterdam and demonstrations in Paris against a pro-Israel gala. Protesters are speaking out against Israel’s actions in Gaza, with concerns about the normalization of these actions. Demonstrators are determined to continue protesting, despite police presence.
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