Palestinian footballers have found themselves caught in an ongoing cycle of violence amid the escalation of conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, with their plight increasingly visible during the current World Cup tournament. The ongoing hostilities have claimed numerous lives, including athletes associated with the sport, underscoring the intersection between politics and football in the region.
Since the outbreak of intensified conflict in October 2023, the Palestinian Football Association reports that at least 567 Palestinian footballers have been killed by Israeli forces. Among the recent casualties was Saleem Khader al-Ashqar, a 32-year-old goalkeeper from Gaza. Married earlier this year and expecting his first child, al-Ashqar was fatally shot by Israeli tank fire in southern Gaza while searching for a cooking gas cylinder for his pregnant wife. Another incident involved the death of Mohamed al-Wahidi, a 57-year-old aid worker killed by an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City’s Sabra district as he was en route to a World Cup screening event he had organised. The strike also killed two boys, Fari and Hamza al-Deri, ages eight and ten, who had been returning from playing football.
The Palestinian cause has resonated with fans and athletes worldwide during the World Cup. Jordanian and Algerian supporters, many with ties to Palestine, displayed Palestinian flags and traditional keffiyehs to show solidarity. Bosnia-Herzegovina fans chanted “Palestine, Palestine” during matches, drawing parallels between their own historical experiences, including the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, and the struggles faced by Palestinians today.
Egypt’s national team manager, Hossam Hassan, has used his platform to spotlight the conflict, dedicating Egypt’s victory over Australia to both the Egyptian and Palestinian people. Ahead of Egypt’s Round of 16 match against Argentina, which Egypt lost 3-2, Hassan appealed to athletes and journalists worldwide to raise awareness and urged for the survival of the Palestinian people.
The presence of Palestinian flags has been notable throughout the tournament, despite football governing bodies’ efforts to limit political expressions within the sport. Neither Israeli nor Palestinian flags are permitted at Premier League grounds in Britain, but both are allowed at World Cup matches under FIFA regulations, reflecting their status as member nations.
Political tensions have also affected officials within football’s administrative sphere. Palestinian Football Association head Jibril Rajoub was unable to attend World Cup matches in the United States due to visa denial, even though it is customary for such officials to attend regardless of team qualification.
Activism linked to the Palestinian situation has extended beyond the Middle East. For instance, in Mexico City, activists formed a human flag of Palestine in the streets ahead of the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11. In the United States, Mahmoud Khalil, a green-card holder involved in pro-Palestinian activism, was detained for over 100 days by immigration authorities without criminal charges and faces deportation proceedings.
As violence persists alongside the World Cup, the intersection of sport, politics, and conflict remains stark, with football serving as both a stage for solidarity and a reminder of the enduring humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians.