Athletic Bilbao guarantee safety of fans ahead of Israel trip

Madrid - Spanish football club Athletic Bilbao on Saturday issued a communique in which it assured the safety of any supporters planning to travel for the club’s Europa League game away to Israeli side Hapoel Kiryat Shmona on Thursday.

The escalating tension on the Gaza Strip has seen more than 30 deaths in air strikes, while Hamas has caused at least three deaths in Israel as a result of rockets fired out of the enclave, reports Xinhua.

The situation means it is hardly the best time to visit Israel, although Athletic have moved to assure any supporters thinking of following them to Kyriat Shmona, which is in the north of Israel, close to the border with Lebanon, that they will be safe.

“In the face of the requirements of our club, the European football (UEFA) has communicated to Athletic Club that for the moment the security and as a result, the dispute of the game is guaranteed in Isreal,” Athletic said on their official website.

“Athletic Club will communicate immediately any modification that could happen and continues to be in contact on every level to ensure the safety of its directors, coaches, players, supporters and journalists who travel to Israel,” continued the communique.