Snipers are stationed on the roof of the Israel team hotel in Udine, as the city remains on high alert for the upcoming World Cup qualifier scheduled for Tuesday.
Since morning, the sound of helicopters has resonated through the air, hours before Italy is set to face Israel at the Stadio Friuli.
Despite a recently established ceasefire that has halted two years of conflict in Gaza, the match is classified as a high-risk event.
A pro-Palestinian march is anticipated to commence in the city center a few hours prior to the match, drawing an estimated crowd of around 10,000 participants. The protest will be kept at a distance from the stadium, located on the outskirts of the city.
Many local shops and restaurants have opted to remain closed on Tuesday, and strict regulations are in place for those that do open, including the removal of outdoor furniture and items that could be used as weapons.
The Israeli team bus will have a heavy security escort to the stadium, with snipers positioned on the arena’s roof along with a significant police and military presence.
Italy hosted Israel in a match in Udine a year prior, selected for its relative seclusion and ease of securing the stadium, especially with roadblocks established around the area.
This locale has been designated as a “red zone,” permitting only ticketed fans to pass through the tall metal barriers. Supporters are strongly encouraged to arrive early due to stringent security checks, which include passing through metal detectors.
Only just over 9,000 tickets have been sold for the qualifier at the 25,000-capacity Stadio Friuli, suggesting that the attendance may be lower than that of the anticipated demonstration.
A pro-Palestine demonstration took place last year before the match as well, but it attracted only about 1,000 protesters.