Category: Sports

The Arab League Council today condemned Israeli crimes against and demanded the provision of international protection to the Palestinian people.

The Council convened an extraordinary meeting at the Permanent Representative level in Cairo to discuss the ongoing deadly Israeli army incursions across the occupied West Bank, including the deadly raid that resulted in the killing of 11 Palestinians, including an elderly and a child, and injuring over 100 others by live bullets, six reported in critical to very critical condition, into the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday.

The Council decried the large-scale Israeli crimes, classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes under international humanitarian law, against the Palestinian people, and called on the international community to implement the resolutions relative to the protection of Palestinian civilians, especially UNSC Resolution 904 (1994), UNSC Resolution 605 (1987) and UNGA Resolution 10\20- RES/ES (201) on the Protection of the Palestinian civilian population.

It urged international actors to actively partake in the protection of Palestinian civilians and form a practical and effective mechanism to implement the UNGA Resolution and United Nations Secretary-General’s report, including the viable options to ensure protection of Palestinian civilians.

It urged the UNSC to shoulder its responsibilities in terms of defending international security and peace and take immediate effective actions to halt all Israeli crimes and practices and bring an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1967.

It called on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to assume their responsibilities in terms of to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, and bring to a halt Israeli violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The Council urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to conduct a genuinely independent and impartial investigation into the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel, including the crimes of aggression, colonial settlement construction, annexation, extrajudicial killings of Palestinians, and forceful displacement, and hold the perpetrators accountable.

It concluded by reiterating the centrality of the Question of Palestinian to the Arab nation as well as its unwavering support to the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, notably the right to self-determination and the right to establish an independent, sovereign State based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has named Palestinian international referee Heba Saadia to participate in the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, 2023.

This is the first time that a Palestinian referee will participate in refereeing matches in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 is the first in the history of the tournament to be co-organised by two countries, the first to be held in the southern hemisphere and the first to include 32 teams.

Source: Palestine news and Information Agency

Morocco’s historic win yesterday 1-0 against Portugal in the quarterfinals of the Qatar World Cup 2022 made headlines today of the three Palestinian Arabic-language dailies.

These are the main headlines of the three dailies:

Al-Quds:

– First Arab and African country to qualify for World Cup semi-finals… Palestine celebrates [Morocco’s] victory… Morocco beats Portugal 1-0 and reaches the semi-finals for the first time in its history.

– Injuries by Israeli gunfire [in the occupied West Bank].

– US warns Israel against annexation or harming the status quo in Al-Aqsa.

– Palestine celebrates the victory of the Moroccan national team, and the Israeli occupation forces suppress the festivities in Jerusalem.

– The deportation of Salah Hammouri.. Another aspect of racial discrimination against Palestinians in Jerusalem.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida:

– Morocco makes the difference… The Atlas Lions continue to climb to the top.

– The Israeli occupation confiscates a [Palestinian-owned] land in the village of Jinsafut, and suppresses those celebrating the victory of the Moroccan national team in Jerusalem.

– Prime Minister Shtayyeh honors Patriarch Michel Sabah and praises his national and humanitarian role.

– Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails hold the Israeli Prison Service responsible for the life of prisoner Walid Daqqa.

– Palestinians hold a vigil in Tayibe against home demolitions by Israel.

– Palestine TV Tower is lit with the Moroccan flag to celebrate the victory of Morocco’s Atlas Lions.

Al-Ayyam:

– Morocco continues to write history by defeating Portugal… Massive celebrations across the West Bank and Gaza Strip on the occasion.

– Injuries during confrontations [with Israeli forces] in Beit Ummar and Nabi Saleh, and Israel decides to seize hundreds of dunums in Jinsafut.

– Occupation police suppress those celebrating Morocco’s victory in occupied Jerusalem.

– US applies pressure not to update a UN list of companies operating in Israeli settlements.

– A UN envoy arrives in Israel soon to investigate the abuse of Palestinian children.

Source: Palestine News and Information agency

Hundreds of Tunisian fans unfurled a massive flag of Palestine yesterday adorned with the motto “Free Palestine” during the FIFA World Cup match between Tunisia and Australia.

Tunisian fans and other nationals have been waiving Palestinian flags in previous matches throughout the international tournament as part of a campaign in support of the Palestinian people and their just struggle for dignity and freedom.

Although Palestine is not qualifying for the tournament, which is being held in the Arab world for the first time, its national flag has become a widely seen symbol throughout the event.

Ahead of the World Cup in Doha, hundreds of fans gathered and waved the Palestinian flags, with reports stating that it was part of an event organised by the Qatar Youth Against Normalisation group.

But not only that, fans from different Arab countries either boycotted Israeli reporters who tried to interview them and refused to appear on their cameras or stood behind them carrying the Palestinian flag while giving a live broadcast to his TV station in Israel.

Some fans have even broken out into performances of the dabke, a traditional Palestinian folk dance often performed in times of celebration, such as weddings.

Support for Palestine is also evident online, with fans using the hashtag #RaisePalestineFlag to share photos, videos and memes in support of Palestine throughout the tournament.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency

DOHA– FIFA has named Wessam Qutob, a Palestinian refugee and a social media influencer, as the official World Cup 2022 ambassador in Qatar.

Qutob took to his social media pages to post a video in which he said: “from a refugee with no place in the world, to the World Cup ambassador.”

With millions of followers on his social media platforms such as Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok, Qutob posts comic clips and his hip-hop songs.

The FIFA 2022 World Cup kicked off yesterday in Qatar; held for the first time in the Middle East and the Arab world.

SOURCE: PALESTINE NEWS AND INFORMATION AGENCY

The opening ceremony of Qatar FIFA 2022 World Cup kicked off today in Qatar; to be held for the first time in the Middle East and the Arab world.

World Cup winner in 1998 and retired legend French footballer, Marcel Desailly, lifted the World Cup trophy in front of the cheering fans ahead of the opening ceremony.

The Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomed everyone at the World Cup tournament during his speech at the opening ceremony, wishing all teams an amazing performance and sportsmanship and a joyous time for everyone watching the tournament, praising everyone’s ability to put aside their indifferences and agree on what unites them.

He said at the opening ceremony, which began with Quran recitations, that “the opening ceremony has finally arrived this evening, and starting this evening and for the next 28 days we, along with the entire world, will be watching the greatest football festival, with people from all nationalities and beliefs gathering here in Qatar and on TV screens across all continents.”

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency