RAMALLAH (Palestine): The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has urged the International Olympic Committee, Fifa, AFC, and other relevant bodies to take urgent measures against Israeli occupation’s gross violations at the Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza.
The PFA in a statement condemns these actions as clear violations of international laws and calls for immediate intervention to address the situation.
This response comes in light of the transformation of the Yarmouk Stadium into a detention centre by Israeli occupation forces, where civilians are rounded up, abused, and interrogated, emphasising the need for legal accountability.
“The PFA calls for the protection of Palestinian sports facilities and condemns the Israeli measures against the Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza as a clear and direct violation of the Olympic Charter, as well as all continental and international laws and conventions,” said a statement from Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA).
It describes these actions as part of Israel’s broader attack against youth, sports, and scout movements in Palestine, resulting in over a thousand members of these movements being killed, injured, or reported missing during the Israeli aggression against the Strip.
Additionally, tens of thousands have fled their homes, and sports facilities have been targeted.
The Yarmouk Stadium, one of the oldest Palestinian stadiums, has become a focal point of concern.
The PFA has sent urgent letters addressing the challenges faced by sports in Palestine due to the occupation’s practices.
These letters have been directed to the International Olympic Committee and all international, continental, and regional sports federations, including the International and Asian Federation, the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, the Union of Arab Football Associations, and all national federations.
The letters also call for the immediate initiation of an international investigation into the occupation’s crimes against sports and athletes in Palestine. – BERNAMA-WAFA
