Palestinian club football to restart in September after Gaza war suspension

What the report says

The Palestinian Football Association says it will restart domestic football activity in September after a long suspension linked to the war in Gaza. According to Al Jazeera’s report from a Ramallah news conference on Monday, association president Jibril Rajoub said league play will begin on September 4, ending a halt that began after the war started on October 7, 2023.

The first competition back will be called the “Thousand Martyrs’ Cup,” a name the association says is intended to honour Palestinian athletes killed during the war. Al Jazeera reported that more than 200 clubs are set to take part, including teams from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Matches are expected to begin simultaneously in those three areas.

Rajoub said the conflict created conditions that forced the suspension of competitions and also strained the finances of the association and clubs. He described the restart as a sign of resilience and said sport should remain a source of hope. He also urged FIFA and other governing bodies to support Palestinian sport and protect the rights of players, clubs and children.

As background, the association has long criticized Israeli clubs in West Bank settlements and has called for sanctions against them, as well as for FIFA action over Israel’s role in Gaza. These broader complaints were part of Rajoub’s comments, according to Al Jazeera.