The Palestine Football Association has appealed to international football authorities against the Israeli military's accusations regarding athletes killed in Gaza. The federation filed an official complaint with FIFA, UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Last week, the Israeli military claimed that 12 Palestinian athletes, including a FIFA-certified international assistant referee, were members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The Palestine Football Association rejected these claims, stating that the accusations were not based on verifiable evidence, had not been submitted to an independent body, and had not undergone legal scrutiny.
In its statement, the federation said, "To take lives and then level accusations against individuals without any evidence, without due legal process, and without giving them the opportunity to defend themselves is absolutely condemnable." It stressed that this approach constitutes "a serious violation of the fundamental principles of justice and sport."
The Palestine Football Association also announced that a total of 1,013 athletes have lost their lives in Israel's attacks on Gaza, including 568 from the football community, and that 265 sports facilities have been destroyed.