The move follows a request by the Argentine Tennis Association to move the match, scheduled for September 12 to 14, who said they were "concerned" over safety of its players should the match go ahead in Tel Aviv.

Israel is aiming to return to the World Group after a one-year absence following its 3-1 victory over Slovenia in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I.

But it will have to play the match overseas, with the ITF giving the Israeli Tennis Association until next August 14 to nominate an alternative venue.

Locations in the United States, Poland or Estonia are thought to be the most likely.

Earlier this week Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) announced that the inaugural Negev Israel Open in Tel Aviv, which was scheduled for September 15 to 21, was being cancelled as a result of the ongoing conflict.

But Ukraine will be able to stage their clash with Belgium in Kyiv despite ongoing unrest in the east of the country, close to the Russian border.

"These were difficult decisions for the Davis Cup Committee," said Juan Margets, chairman of the ITF's Davis Cup Committee.

"Both countries were eager to host and have a record of staging quality ties.

"After long deliberation, the committee was convinced that Kyiv would provide a safe environment for the tie with Belgium and agreed for it to go ahead as scheduled.

"The decision on Israel versus Argentina was more problematic for the committee because the situation in Israel is very fluid at the moment and yet security in Israel is of an exceptionally high standard.

"Ultimately the outcome rested on the lack of certainty of the situation at the date of the tie, on the decision of other sports not to compete in Israel at this time and on the ITF's duty to ensure the safety of players, officials and spectators."

ITF Davis Cup Committee chairman Juan Margets claims the safety of players in Tel Aviv cannot be guaranteed ©Getty Images



Gaza officials claim the latest escalation in violence has killed 1,874 Palestinians, most of them civilians.

Israel says 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have been killed since fighting began on July 8.

Last month, the International Federation of American Football pulled its Flag Football World Championship from Israel, while the International Swimming Federation also moved the World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships out of the country.

In addition, European football's governing body, UEFA, barred Israeli clubs involved in continental competitions from hosting matches on home soil and instead they will be played in Cyprus.

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