Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has released a statement this evening explaining his reasons for stepping away from the Ireland squad for tomorrow's game against Israel. "Representing my country means everything to me," Bazunu wrote. "I have the utmost respect for every single of my teammates, the manager, his staff and the Irish people. "However, I have reached a decision that I have not taken lightly. I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle, therefore I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel. "My decision is based purely upon my belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong. It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition to the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region. "There are few times when you get a chance in life to stand for something bigger and I strongly believe that this is one of them."