Snipers are on the roof of the Israel team hotel in Udine and the Italian city is on maximum alert ahead of a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

The sound of helicopters surveilling the city has filled the air since the morning, hours before Italy 's match against Israel was set to kick off at Stadio Friuli.

The match has been placed in the highest risk category despite a breakthrough ceasefire deal that has paused two years of war in Gaza.

A pro-Palestinian march is scheduled to start in the city centre a few hours before kick-off and is expected to attract around 10,000 people. It will be kept away from the stadium which is on the outskirts of the city.

Many shops and restaurants have decided not to open on Tuesday and there are strict rules for those that do -- including the remova

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