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Palestinian soccer

Mohammed Sami Mohammed Khattab, an international soccer referee and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative, in an undated photo published by the IDF. (Israel Defense Forces)
July 22, 2026, 10:27 pm
IDF specifies terror affiliations of 12 Gazan soccer players killed in Israeli strikes; one was a FIFA ref
Seven of them have been acknowledged as members by Hamas and Islamic Jihad; IDF criticizes ‘false campaign’ that portrayed Israel as deliberately targeting soccer players, despite many of them having ties to Gaza terror groups
By Emanuel Fabian
FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman (left), vice president of the Israeli Football Association, as Jibril Rajoub (right), president of the Palestine Football Association, leaves the stage at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Reuters/Jennifer Gauthier)
May 1, 2026, 8:22 am
Palestinian soccer chief refuses to shake hands with Israel federation VP at FIFA event
Jibril Rajoub accuses FIFA president of failing to understand ‘deep suffering’ of Palestinian people after Infantino urged the two to ‘give hope to the children’; Israel’s rep had said, ‘We are proud of their squads and our squads’
By Reuters and ToI Staff
The Israeli Premier League match between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Jerusalem at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem on December 8, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
March 20, 2026, 11:06 am
FIFA fines Israeli soccer for fans’ racism, but lets teams from settlements compete
Governing body orders Israel Football Association to crack down on Beitar Jerusalem and others, but declines to weigh in on ‘complex matter’ of West Bank’s legal status
By Reuters
Palestinians take part in a five-a-side football match amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza City on February 9, 2026. (Omar A-Qattaa/AFP)
February 10, 2026, 7:12 pm
Soccer returns to war-torn Gaza with first organized tournament in over two years
With the Gaza City stadium turned into a displaced persons camp, crowds watch as players face off on a half-sized pitch, with the debris hastily swept off the old turf
By Reuters
Palestinian girls take part in a soccer practice session at a pitch next to Israel's security barrier in Aida refugee camp, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, December 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
January 13, 2026, 7:08 pm
‘This will destroy our dreams’: Israel slates West Bank soccer field for demolition
Israel says pitch built illegally in area next to security barrier; residents say Aida refugee camp does not have any other open spaces for recreation
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Fans wave Palestinian flags during a friendly match between a selection of Palestinian players and a group of Spanish players from the Basque Country, held to protest against Israel amid the war in Gaza, in Bilbao, Spain, November 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
November 27, 2025, 9:16 pm
FIFA teams up with Switzerland to fund soccer fields for Palestinians in West Bank
Swiss government gives $149,000 to construction of community ‘FIFA arenas,’ following organization chief’s pledge to to ‘help rebuild all football facilities in Gaza and Palestine’
By AP
Palestinian soccer player Suleiman Obeid (L) vies for the ball with Iranian player Hashem Beikzadeh during their West Asian Football Federation Championship (WAFF) match in the Jordanian capital Amman, 20 June 2007. (KHALIL MAZRAAWI / AFP)
August 11, 2025, 4:22 am
After soccer star killed in Gaza, IDF says it’s unaware of casualties in the area that day
Fans and family honor ‘Palestinian Pele’ Suleiman al-Obeid, 41, who was reportedly killed last week while waiting in line for aid in southern Strip
By Emanuel Fabian, Reuters and ToI Staff
Palestinian soccer player Suleiman al-Obeid in an undated photo. (X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
August 8, 2025, 9:52 am
Palestinian former soccer star allegedly killed by Israeli forces in Gaza
Palestinian Football Association claims Suleiman al-Obeid, 41, nicknamed ‘Palestinian Pele,’ was shot dead while waiting for aid in Strip’s south; no immediate Israeli response
By AFP and ToI Staff
Palestine's Mohammed Rashid (3) and Qatar's Abdel Aziz Hatim compete for the ball during the Asian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Qatar and Palestine at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Monday, January 29, 2024. (AP/Aijaz Rahi)
July 5, 2024, 12:57 pm
Palestinian national soccer team aims to host World Cup qualifier games in West Bank
Palestinians, who have not hosted a match at the Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in Al Ram since 2019, hoping to take on Jordan at home in September
By JOHN DUERDEN
File - Israel's players celebrate after the end of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Albania and Israel at Air Albania stadium in Tirana, Albanian, June 10, 2022. Israel won 2-1.(AP Photo/Franc Zhurda)
May 16, 2024, 5:14 pm
Belgium cuts off ticket sales for soccer match against Israel over ‘security concerns’
No details given for move affecting September UEFA Nations League game; Asian soccer federation backs Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from FIFA over Gaza war
By Agencies
Palestinian forward Zaid Qunbar celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group C soccer match against Hong Kong at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on January 23, 2024. (Giuseppe Cacade/AFP)
January 23, 2024, 9:57 pm
Palestinian national soccer team reaches Asian Cup last 16
In first, Palestinians squeezes through as one of the four best third-placed teams
By AFP and ToI Staff
Palestinian amputees play a soccer match while using their crutches during a training session, at Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
December 8, 2021, 11:47 am
Gaza soccer league aims to help amputees cope with war trauma
Team established with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross hopes to compete regionally and appear at the World Cup for amputees in Turkey next year
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Hanin Abu Mariam, a 21-year-old Palestinian female referee, after a football match at Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in the West Bank city of Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem, February 11, 2021. (ABBAS MOMANI/AFP)
February 18, 2021, 11:59 pm
Palestinian female soccer referee raises flag for women
Hailing from small West Bank village of Burham, Hanine Abu Mariam dreams of a global career officiating international soccer games — men’s and women’s alike
By Hossam Ezzedine
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