Women actors, activists and public figures call on UEFA to suspend Israel from European football

More than 200 women from several countries have signed a letter urging UEFA to suspend Israel from European football, according to groups involved in organising the initiative.

The letter was sent to Barbara Čeferin, the wife of UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, asking her to do "everything in your power to help remove Israel from European football". The appeal was coordinated by CODEPINK and #GameOverIsrael and includes women from the arts, public life and civil society, says Zeteo.

"We write to you as fellow women, partners, mothers, and trailblazers to ask that you do everything in your power to help remove Israel from European football," the authors said. They added that "we are not living in normal circumstances," noting that "we understand the unique influence we as women have in our communities and relationships", but felt compelled to act publicly.

The letter claims that "at the time of the writing of this letter, after the ceasefire agreement signing, they are ferociously shelling the Gaza Strip," and accuses Israel of escalating operations in the occupied West Bank.

Some signatories added personal notes. Irish television presenter Síle Seoige wrote: "I believe in you and your voice matters." Comedian Jen Brister said: "I speak with Palestinians in Gaza every day. Their lives, their futures and much of their family has been erased. Settlers are waiting to take their land. They are begging to be heard."

Brister added: "Don't turn away from a people who are systematically being murdered and ethnically cleansed from their own land. Do not give Israel impunity. Boycott, divest, sanction. Their crimes must not be laundered through football or any international sports event."

Leslie H. of Texas wrote: "No mother's children should have to grow up in hunger and fear," and added: "Genocide is immoral and illegal, under international law. Please use your influence to protect families from erasure and the environment from Devastation!"

Rachel G. of Minnesota said: "As a soccer athlete, woman, mother, and just a human being – I strongly support kicking Israel out of any and all professional sport venues. We do not support genocide."

Trudy S. of New York wrote: "As a mother, grandmother and wife, I am sick about the genocide. I lived through South African apartheid, same thing."

The letter forms part of a broader effort from activists, academics and political groups calling for Israel's suspension from UEFA. Previous appeals have included an athlete-led letter involving players such as Paul Pogba and Nigel Pearson, and a separate letter from human rights experts including Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, executive director of the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. Officials in Turkey, Spain's prime minister, the Football Association of Ireland and several Italian clubs have also called for a ban.

A proposal to suspend Israel had been considered by UEFA in September, but the process was paused after US President Donald Trump announced what he described as a "peace plan" for Gaza, according to the summary of the report.