Maccabi Tel Aviv boss Robbie Keane 'flees Israel for Greece' amid Gaza bloodshed

Former English Premier League and Ireland footballer Robbie Keane reportedly fled Israel for Greece over the weekend amid fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Keane is manager of Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Tel Aviv, a role he was appointed to in the summer.

More than 500 Palestinians and 800 Israelis have been killed since militants from Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack  on Israel from Gaza on Saturday. Israel has relentlessly bombed the Palestinian enclave since, with the overwhelming majority of Palestinians killed civilians.

During this time, former Tottenham and Liverpool striker Keane was forced to spend hours in a panic room with his assistant manager Rory Delap, talkSPORT reported.

It was only once the Israeli military moved into the area that he could leave, according to the sports site.

Keane scored more than 400 goals during his playing career at clubs including Tottenham, Leeds, Liverpool, Coventry, West Ham, and Celtic.

The 43-year-old is also the most-capped player and all-time record goal scorer for the Republic of Ireland.

Maccabi Tel Aviv are currently top of the Israeli Premier League, having won four and drawn one of their opening games.

Keane’s move to the Israeli club caused controversy, with many Irish political and cultural figures condemning Keane for breaking from the strong Irish call for boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israel.

Mark Ward, a member of Irish parliament from the Sein Finn party, accused the Irish marksman of "sportswashing", and said he would be used to “gloss over and legitimise the apartheid regime.”