The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) announced on Monday that it will resume sporting activities after three years of interruption caused by the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The first competition of this new period will be the "Cup of a Thousand Martyrs," created in honor of Palestinian athletes killed during the war.
PFA president Jibril Rajoub said the association would resume its sporting activities and the championship starting September 4.
Tournament format
The tournament will bring together 226 clubs: 146 from the West Bank, 44 from the Gaza Strip and 36 from refugee camps in Lebanon. The competition will open with three simultaneous matches.
In the West Bank, Jabal Al-Mukaber will face Shabab Al-Khalil at Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium. In the Gaza Strip, Shabab Rafah will play Khadamat Rafah. In Lebanon, Al-Ansar will meet Al-Nahda at the Ain Al-Hilweh camp field.
Impact of the war
Palestinian football was directly affected by the conflict in the region, which intensified from October 2023. Despite a ceasefire planned for October 2025, Israel continued carrying out attacks in Gaza, and Hamas has so far rejected calls to lay down arms in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The Palestinian Football Association says 1,000 athletes are among the 73,000 Palestinians killed by Israel in the war since 2023, including children and amateurs across all sports, as well as referees and professionals. The Israeli military has since destroyed numerous structures in Gaza, including homes, hospitals and 285 sports facilities, some flattened by bulldozers and others bombed.
The association, led by Rajoub, has for years demanded punishment for Israeli clubs based in West Bank settlements and the suspension of Israel's membership in FIFA.
Rajoub said the association was not demanding privileges, but was claiming legitimate rights guaranteed by sporting laws and statutes.
