Club football has resumed in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, with the Thousand Martyrs’ Cup launching to honor athletes killed during Israel’s war on Gaza. The tournament, organized by the Palestinian Football Association, features 226 clubs across three regions after a three-year suspension.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has restarted club football competitions in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, marking a symbolic return to sports after nearly three years of disruption caused by Israel’s war. The tournament, named the Thousand Martyrs’ Cup, commemorates over 1,000 athletes, coaches, and officials killed during the conflict, with 226 clubs participating across three regional hubs.
Tournament Structure and Participation
The competition includes 146 clubs from the West Bank, 44 from Gaza, and 36 from refugee camps in Lebanon, according to the PFA. Matches were played simultaneously in Al-Ram, Gaza’s Deir al-Balah, and the Ain al-Hilweh camp in southern Lebanon. The tournament’s group-stage draw occurred on September 1, with 244 clubs taking part in the competition, though the PFA later confirmed 226 participants. The event aims to rebuild sports infrastructure amid widespread destruction, as Israeli attacks have leveled stadiums, academies, and sports facilities, according to the Palestinian Sports Media Association.
Club football resumes in Palestinian territories and Lebanon
The PFA announced the official resumption of competitions on September 4, ending a nearly three-year suspension enforced by “Israel’s” genocidal war across the occupied Palestinian territories. The tournament’s name reflects the loss of 1,014 athletes, coaches, and officials since October 2023, including national team star Suleiman al-Obaid, killed while waiting for humanitarian aid, and Olympic coach Hani al-Masry. Over 560 football players, coaches, and staff have been killed in Gaza, while more than 265 sports facilities have been destroyed, per the PFA.
Honoring the Fallen
PFA President Jibril Rajoub emphasized the tournament’s significance as a symbol of hope and life for Palestinians. The Israeli war created extremely difficult conditions for all Palestinians that forced the suspension of our competitions,
he stated. But we have not lost our Palestinian national will, nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life.
Mustafa Siam, secretary-general of the Palestinian Sports Media Association, noted that the tournament signals a return of sporting life, albeit in a limited format.
In Gaza, major facilities like Yarmouk Stadium lie in ruins after being leveled by “Israeli” forces and turned into tent camps for displaced families. In the Jabalia refugee camp, PFA organizers recently cleared piles of concrete rubble, laid down worn artificial turf, and erected a fence alongside bombed-out residential structures to create an improvised field. On this ground, Palestinian amputee players, who lost limbs to “Israeli” airstrikes, have resumed training, and local clubs Gaza Sports Club and Al-Ahly Club recently faced off in a local match.
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The loss of life among Gaza’s sports community has been staggering. Over 560 football players, coaches, and staff are among the dead, including Suleiman al-Obaid and Hani al-Masry. More than 265 athletic facilities across Gaza have been reduced to rubble by “Israeli” bombardments. The tournament’s group-stage draw was held on September 1 simultaneously at different branches of the association, with matches played in Al-Ram, Deir al-Balah, and Ain al-Hilweh.
Broader Implications
The resumption of football reflects broader efforts to reclaim normalcy in Palestine. The PFA’s decision to name the tournament after the Thousand Martyrs ties the sport to collective memory and resilience. However, the scale of destruction and loss remains staggering, with over 560 players and staff killed in Gaza alone. While the tournament offers a glimmer of continuity, it also underscores the fragility of rebuilding efforts amid ongoing conflict. The PFA’s next steps will likely depend on the humanitarian and political situation, but for now, the Thousand Martyrs’ Cup stands as both a tribute and a rallying point.
The Israeli war created extremely difficult conditions for all Palestinians that forced the suspension of our competitions,
Rajoub stated. But we have not lost our Palestinian national will, nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life.
Jibril Rajoub, PFA President
