Doha, Qatar – As football players and fans around the world face scolding for their protests in solidarity with Palestine, thousands gathered at the Education City stadium in Qatar to show their support and help raise funds for Palestinians facing to the anger of the Israeli war against Gaza.
As the sun set on a breezy Friday evening at the former venue of the 2022 Qatar World Cup on the outskirts of the capital, Doha, fans dressed in Palestinian colors and waving the Palestinian flag gathered en masse on the site with a good mood.
The Stand with Palestine charity match was organized by the Qatar Foundation. It was based on an initiative by a group of students hoping to raise money through ticket sales and raise awareness of the situation in Gaza, where nearly 19,000 people, including more than 7,000 children, have been killed in the Israeli bombings since October 7.
Karim Abbas, one of the Palestinian students involved in organizing the event, said the match was being played “for the children of Palestine.”
“As a Palestinian myself, it’s very difficult to see these videos (from Gaza), but then I imagine people living under oppression and I realize that it’s much more difficult to bear” , a visibly moved Abbas told Tel Aviv Tribune.
The participating teams consisted of students from two Qatar-based schools and international footballers, including former Spanish World Cup winner Javi Martinez, Moroccan international Soufiane Boufal and several players from the Qatar national team. One team represented Qatar, the other Palestine.
“We have not forgotten”
Despite the presence of global and regional stars, fans in the 40,000-seat stadium remained focused on their main task for the night: waving the Palestinian flag and raising their voices in support of the people of Gaza.
“We are here to tell the people of Gaza that we have not forgotten them,” Abdellah Abdul Razzaq, a Canadian based in Qatar, said before the match.
“In 2023, there is no room for genocide.”
During the build-up to the match, star footballers entered the field and interacted with fans by giving autographs and posing for photos.
As the players returned to their locker rooms and fans waited for the match to begin, a familiar tune blared over the public address system and the crowd instantly rose to its feet.
The popular Palestinian song “Dammi Falasteeni” (My Blood is Palestinian) resonated throughout the compact stadium and fans of all ages, economic backgrounds and nationalities sang and danced.
For Palestinians in the stands, the crowd’s loud rendition of the song’s chorus sparked an explosion of emotion.
“Seeing all these people, whether Palestinian or not, supporting the cause of Palestine makes me very happy,” Abdel Wahab al-Masri, a Palestinian based in Doha, told Tel Aviv Tribune.
“If the people of Gaza could see this support, it would give them strength and greater power to resist the occupation,” he added.
Al-Masri and his five compatriots waved a large Palestinian flag while explaining how the people of his country found the courage to resist Israel’s occupation of their territory.
“The courage and resilience you see is something all Palestinians grow up with,” he said, referring to social videos of Palestinian children vowing to stand firm in the face of adversity.
“The mental strength to understand that Gaza is their land and that once the war is over they will have to reclaim it is part of their education,” al-Masri said, as the song continued to loop.
“An unprecedented war”
Emotions ran high for everyone in the crowd, not just the Palestinians.
For Chique Leo of the Philippines, it was about showing the world’s “disgusting” leaders that Palestinians are not alone.
“It breaks my heart to see hundreds of civilians dying every day – parents losing their daughters and sons, children losing their parents, but they (world leaders) don’t care because they are busy enjoying their comfortable lifestyle,” the 55-year-old said. -said the old woman as her voice trembled with anger.
“This is an unprecedented war and the way the world is allowing this to continue and dehumanizing Palestinians is unbearable. »
As kick-off approached, the number of people in the stands increased, as did the fundraising figures. Organizers said 20 million Qatari riyals ($5.5 million) had been raised by the end of the match.
The light action on the field was no match for the charged crowd, who maintained “Palestine!” » in their chants throughout the match.
The beating of drums was followed by roars of “Falateen,” Mexican waves transformed into Palestinian waves as thousands of flags were raised in unison.
The match ended in a 4-3 (penalty shootout) victory for Palestine, but it was difficult to tell which team represented the home crowd, as players from both sides came together to wave the red flag, white, black and green. more time.