Full Breakdown
Return of Palestinian Football: The Thousand Martyrs Cup Revives Play Amid Ongoing Restrictions
By Drooid · · How we work
The Tournament’s Launch
The Thousand Martyrs Cup marked the first organised football competition in the West Bank, Gaza and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon after nearly three years of suspension. Matches began at al-Khader Stadium in Bethlehem, with Arab Orthodox Beit Jala and Dheisheh Youth teams warming up before a full crowd. The cup is named for the 1,014 athletes killed since the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, and now more than 200 clubs are back competing across the territories.
Conflict-Driven Damage and Restrictions
The war has devastated football infrastructure. Israeli checkpoints and “iron [military] gates” at village entrances frequently block team travel, leading to postponed but not cancelled matches. The conflict has also claimed athletes such as national-team forward Suleiman al-Obeid (killed while awaiting aid in Gaza, 2025) and Olympic-team coach Hani al-Masdar (killed 2024). Financial strain has forced many professionals back to amateur status, and some careers have ended.
Official Statements & Responses
He emphasizes the PFA’s resolve to keep the tournament running despite demolition orders on pitches such as the AOD Sports Academy field, which were frozen after an international campaign involving FIFA and UEFA.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We came back because we want to prove to the whole world that we are a people who must live,” — Abu Hilal, secretary-general of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA)
- “Every village, every city has an iron [military] gate at its entrance,” — Abu Hilal, secretary-general of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA)
- “This field is a breathing space for us,” — Karim
- “I broke the rule that football is not for girls,” — Fatima Lutfi
- “There really are people whose lives depend on being able to live their dream, because it gives them hope. And we don’t have that. But we exist. We are not just a number.” — Cesar Sarras
Impact on Players and Communities
For many, the cup restores a sense of normalcy. “It makes us feel that we have something a little bit normal, like people abroad,” said 15-year-old Rimas Sarhan from Aida refugee camp. Fatima Lutfi, 15, broke the local rule that football is not for girls, while Karim, 20, described the AOD pitch as “a breathing space for us.” The tournament thus serves both as sport and as a symbolic assertion of resilience.