The Palestinian Football Association has confirmed that the national leagues will restart in September, ending a suspension that began when Israel’s war in Gaza erupted three years ago.
The first competition, named the ‘Thousand Martyrs’ Cup, will pay tribute to 1,014 Palestinian athletes who lost their lives in the conflict, and will feature more than 200 clubs representing Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanese refugee camps.
A symbolic return on the field
Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Association, said the war created impossible conditions for sport but that football remains a beacon of hope and national resolve. He highlighted the financial strain on clubs and the association, while emphasizing that the tournament will showcase the community’s resilience.
Rajoub used the occasion to appeal to FIFA, urging the governing body to back Palestinian sport, safeguard players’ rights and apply its regulations without bias. He questioned FIFA’s political neutrality and called for sanctions against Israeli clubs operating in occupied settlements, even suggesting a suspension of Israel’s FIFA membership.
The association reiterated that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank lack legal standing under international law, reinforcing its stance that the sport must be insulated from political exploitation.