Khalid Al Tawalbeh
Doha
Amid a plethora of events, shocks and surprises; fall of some great teams and rise of others; something bigger and more beautiful is happening – expression of support for the Palestinian cause.
Palestine has a strong presence in the hearts of the Arab and international masses. That no one has forgotten it was evident from the presence of Palestinian flags in all the streets of Doha and the number of people cheering for it.
Palestine remained present at all the matches of the Qatar World Cup, its flags fluttered among the fans who cheered in its name after each victory an Arab team registered, whether it was Tunisia’s triumph over France or Morocco’s victory over Spain and Portugal. The support was the same whether it was in Qatar or the streets of other Arab capitals like in Tunis, Rabat, and Amman.
The Tunisia match witnessed the entry of the famous Tunisian YouTuber Memo into the green rectangle, raising the flag of Palestine.
A video of the Saudi content maker Abdul Aziz Al Tamimi, was taken while distributing the Palestinian flag for free among the fans, and declining any payment offered for it. He called on everyone to wear a “Kofiya” and not take it off. He expressed his joy and happiness at the distribution of the flag of Palestine, saying: “I will let all fans holdthe Palestinian flag”.
Qatar Tribune asked a group of Arab fans how much they liked watching the Palestinian flag flying in the sky of Doha.
“The tournament is an opportunity for us to remind the world of our cause, especially as it has become more preoccupied with other issues,” said 25-year-old Ahmed Zeinat, a Palestinian medical sector worker who was spotted wearing a Qatar T-shirt and raising the Palestinian flag.
Accompanied by his father, who sported the Palestinian Kufiyeh during the Morocco-Portugal match, he continued: “Some foreigners do not know the Palestinian flag and ask us about it. Here comes our opportunity to publicise our cause.”
Zeinat believes that the tournament, held for the first time in an Arab country, is a golden opportunity to familiarise the world with their cause. “Palestine does not exist in the championship, but we make it exist with the flag, with the Kufiyeh and with songs. It is the absent but present,” he said.
Twenty-five-year-old American doctor of Palestinian origin Ahmed Al Tayeb stressed that the issue of Palestine is “the only truth amid all falsifications in the world.”
A number of Arab activists had launched the “Palestine leadership badge” campaign on social networking sites a few months before the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage leaders of the Arab teams participating in the World Cup to replace their traditional leadership badge with the colours of the Palestinian flag during the tournament.
Anas Al Hajj, coordinator of the “Palestinian dream” campaign, said in a statement: “We launched an electronic campaign under the name “Palestinian dream” with the aim of informing the world about the Palestinian issue during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
“Fans from all Arab countries have interacted with the campaign at matches, metro stations and arenas where World Cup fans come,” he added.
“This interaction proved that the issue of Palestine is still alive, which is the issue of all the Hebrew and Muslim peoples,” Al-Hajj added.
Tunisian lawyer Nadia Ezzeddine expressed her love for Palestine, telling Qatar Tribune: “Here we are discovering that there is a Palestinian people -- vibrant, and alive.”
“We have not forgotten them and will not forget, they are here with us at the World Cup, and we will tell the world that we have a cause, and that one day it will win,” she added.
“Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Sudan people of all these countries support Palestine,” said Saleema Sharif, a Sudanese journalist who is visiting Qatar. “We feel we have to support one another. If any Arab country wins, then Palestine wins”.
“Right now, Palestinians might be scattered all over the world, but here we’re happy to be together and to share this feeling.” She added that the Arab people were sending a strong message to the world: “Don’t forget Palestine. Don’t ignore the Palestinian issue.”
AFP writer and journalist George Haddad told the Qatar Tribune: “The World Cup in Qatar has renewed consideration of the issue. The Palestinian people will not be silenced.”
Palestinian flags were not raised only in the streets of Qatar, but also inside stadiums. For example, Palestinian flags were raised in the match between Morocco and Canada, which ended with Morocco’s victory.
Moroccan players Jawad el-Yamiq and Salim Amlah, who participated as substitutes in the match, also raised the Palestinian flag.
