The Palestinian Football Association has officially confirmed that organized sports activities, including professional football, will resume on September 4. This restart marks the end of a nearly three-year hiatus that began following the onset of the war on October 7, 2023.
Association President Jibril Rajoub announced the return during a press conference in Ramallah on Monday. He acknowledged that the conflict created immense challenges for the Palestinian people, forcing the suspension of all athletic competitions and activities for an extended period.
To mark the return, the association is launching a tournament titled the “Thousand Martyrs’ Cup.” The event is dedicated to honoring the 1,014 Palestinian athletes who have been killed during the war, according to official data maintained by the association.
The competition will feature more than 200 clubs, with matches taking place simultaneously across three regions: the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza, and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Specifically, the field includes 146 clubs from the West Bank, 44 from Gaza, and 36 from the refugee camps.
Despite the difficult financial circumstances facing local clubs, Rajoub emphasized the resilience of the community. “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 stated.
During the event, Rajoub urged FIFA and global sports federations to support Palestinian athletes and protect the rights of players and children to participate in sports with “freedom and dignity.” He reiterated that the association is not seeking special privileges but is instead demanding the application of rights guaranteed by international sporting charters.
The association has also challenged FIFA’s current direction, questioning whether the governing body possesses the courage to apply its regulations equally without bowing to political pressure. This includes ongoing calls for FIFA to suspend Israel’s membership and sanction clubs operating within illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The association previously issued a statement regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s now-withdrawn plan to open tournaments to private investors, saying “many today are questioning FIFA’s commercial direction”.
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