Celtic fans advised not to fly Palestinian flags during Champions League playoff in Israel

Celtic will be playing their Champions League playoff 25 miles from Palestine's Gaza Strip.

Brendan Rodgers' side will qualify for the group stages of the Champions League if they can overcome Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the upcoming two-legged qualifier. Celtic will take on the Israeli side at Celtic Park on August 17 before flying out for the return leg some six days later. A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy, in London, has advised travelling Celtic supporters from flying any Palestinian flags during that return leg. Fans of the Scottish side were fined £16,000 in 2014 after flying Palestinian flags during a European tie against KR Reykjavik. The spokesperson told The Scottish Sun:

"I don’t think it would be allowed. "Anyway, I don’t see what the point is if you are Scottish and you want to fly a Palestinian flag. What’s the point?"

  What is the point indeed? Celtic fans would argue that they have an affinity with Palestine and people from the Basque region due to the strong Scots-Irish community that support the club. Back in 2012, on the final day of the Scottish football season, many flags were flown by Hoops fans - as a show of support to Palestinian hunger strikers - at Celtic Park. Meanwhile, the UK's Foreign Office is advising football fans, and all those thinking of travelling, to avoid Gaza during any trips to the area.