The Palestinian Football Association has announced that football competitions will resume on September 4, ending a nearly three-year suspension caused by Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The first tournament back, the “Thousand Martyrs’ Cup”, will honour the 1,014 Palestinian athletes killed by Israel during the war, according to association data.
More than 200 clubs will take part, including 146 from the occupied West Bank, 44 from Gaza and 36 from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. The tournament will kick off simultaneously across all three locations.
Rajoub said the genocide had ‘created difficult conditions for all Palestinians’ and forced the suspension of competitions and activities.
‘But we have not lost our Palestinian national will, nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life,’ he said.
He also called on FIFA and other governing bodies to support Palestinian sport and protect the rights of players, clubs and children to participate in sport ‘in freedom and dignity’.
