Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar, Lolwah Al Khater, has called out “Israeli exceptionalism” in the apparent lack of mainstream media coverage on the Israeli attack on Thursday night which targeted a Palestinian football match in the town of Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem.
The attack occurred a day after FIFA stripped Indonesia of its right to host the Under-20 football World Cup after officials and fans there protested Israel’s participation.
The Qatari diplomat’s tweet embedded a video of the attack, which showed Israeli forces firing tear gas into the Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium in Jerusalem during the Palestine League Cup Final.
The attack took place during halftime during the match between top Palestinian football teams, Jabal Al-Mukaber and Balata YC.
The assault delayed the game, which ended with a 1-0 victory for Jabal Al-Mukaber.
No casualties were confirmed, although tens of Palestinians suffocated as a result of teargas inhalation.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said in a statement, “It was supposed to be a celebration. It was meant to be an exclamation point on a season that has been condensed to give the national team ample time to prepare themselves for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup finals.”
“This was a completely unprovoked attack, and the Israeli forces were not commissioned to keep order in, or around, the stadium. Fortuitously, only three people were injured- had the stadium been at near capacity this could have resulted in the death of dozens of supporters,” the statement added.
“Players, fans, and administrators alike wanted to know what FIFA would do in response not only to this attack but in regards to the murder of Thaqafi Tulkarem’s top forward Ahmad Draghmeh in December,” the PFA said.