Qatar, Chile football clubs show support for Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem after brutal Israeli attacks

Qatar, Chile football clubs show support for Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem after brutal Israeli attacks
Football teams across the world are showing solidarity with Palestinian protesters in Sheikh Jarrah and Al-Aqsa.
2 min read
10 May, 2021
Qatari teams have shown support for Palestinians in Jerusalem [Qatar Football Association]
Football teams in Qatar and Chile showed solidarity with Palestinian protesters on Sunday, after brutal attacks on Muslim congregations and demonstrations in Jerusalem by Israeli forces and settlers.

Players from Qatar Super League sides Al-Sadd and Al-Arabi donned Palestinian scarves and held a banner saying "Palestine is in our hearts" before kick-off for Sunday's Doha derby.

BeIN Sport pundit and former Egyptian footballer Mohamed Aboutrika spoke out in support of Palestinian protesters during the coverage of the Amir Cup semi-final.

"I first want to take the time to salute the people in Jerusalem and I pray that Almight God makes them victorious... They need our prayers and we need their prayers, because they are the most honourable and purest people in our ummah [Muslim community]. May God grant them victory over the occupation," he said, according to Doha News.

In Chile, Club Deportivo Palestino also made a statement of support for Palestinians before Sunday's match against Colo-Colo.

Club Deportivo Palestino players  - a club started by Palestinian immigrants - donned black-and-white keffiyehs before kick-off to show solidarity with Jerusalem.

Hundreds of Palestinian protesters have been injured in Jerusalem after Israeli forces brutally suppressed demonstrations around Al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied Sheikh Jarrah.

In Sheikh Jarrah, dozens of Palestinians are to be forcibly evicted from their homes in the East Jerusalem suburb to make way for Israeli settlers, sparking protests and sit-ins in support of the families.

On Monday, Israeli forces fired tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets in and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

Over 200 Palestinians were injured as Israeli forces assaulted worshippers on Sunday night, with scores more injured in assaults by security forces over the weekend.

Around 30,000 people remain within the mosque compound, holding a sit-in protest following repeated Israeli provocations during Ramadan.

The situation in Jerusalem is expected to grow more tense on Monday as Israeli settlers prepare to mark "Jerusalem Day", the anniversary of East Jerusalem's capture by Israel during the 1967 war, with a provocative parade through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.

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