Thousands of police officers are being deployed around Paris ahead of a soccer game between France and Israel to prevent violence similar to the recent incidents in Amsterdam involving Israeli fans. This match is expected to be met with protests due to tensions over Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon. 4,000 officers will be on duty, with 2,500 around the Stade de France and 1,500 across the city, as French and Israeli flags will be the only ones allowed inside the stadium. Drones will be used for surveillance and the National Gendarmerie will patrol metro lines. The game attendance is expected to be low. The increased security follows violence at a previous match in Amsterdam and demonstrations in Paris against a pro-Israel gala featuring the far-right Israeli finance minister. Protests by pro-Palestinian and leftist Jewish groups took place, with clashes with police reported. Demonstrators expressed opposition to the normalization of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the high number of casualties, particularly women and children. The U.N. has reported that around 70% of those killed in Gaza were women and children since Israel’s offensive began. Protester Omar, 30, stated that protests will continue despite police presence.
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