Bilbao, Spain – November 11, 2023 – Facing immense personal loss and representing a nation under siege, the Palestinian national football team played a charity match in Bilbao today, aiming to raise awareness and funds for humanitarian aid in Gaza. The game comes amidst escalating conflict and stark declarations from Israeli officials regarding the future of a Palestinian state.
Just days prior, Israeli Defense Minister Israel katz asserted, “There will be no Palestinian state,” further complicating the already fraught political landscape.
The team’s coach, Ehab Abu Jazar, has suffered devastating personal tragedy, confiding to Agence France-Presse, “We have lost almost 200 martyrs in my family. my house was destroyed.” Despite this, he stated, “Emotionally and psychologically it is very difficult, but representing Palestine is the greatest honour there is.”
Unlike their coach, the majority of the selected players are based internationally, playing in countries including Qatar, Chile, Iceland, and the United States. The domestic Palestinian football league has been suspended as October 7, 2023, with numerous athletes injured or killed in the conflict. Among those lost was Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pele,” who died in August at age 41 in the Gaza Strip.
“We are here on a mission to deliver a message to the whole world: the Palestinian people deserve to live with dignity,” Abu Jazar said, adjusting his keffiyeh. He continued, “We must end the occupation, end this war and this genocide. Death continues to strike in Gaza, as does famine. And there is no shelter.”
The charity match, the first of its kind in Europe for the Palestinian selection, will donate all proceeds to Doctors Without Borders. Defender Yaser Hamed, born in Bilbao and formerly trained at Athletic Club, currently playing in Qatar, emphasized the team’s responsibility: “We have this responsibility to give a little joy to our suffering compatriots. All this must stop and Palestine must finally be free.” He added, “This money will help a lot, in particular to rebuild hospitals, deliver medicine, etc.”
