RRome, 13 Feb. (askanews) – 1,100 Palestinian athletes have been killed since October 2023in over 3 years of Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip, following the October 7 attack by Hamas. Jibril Rayoub, President of the Palestinian Olympic Committee and the Palestinian Football Federation, said this during the presentation of a report to the Chamber of Deputies which takes stock of the dramatic situation of sport nin his homeland, while the Winter Games are underway in Italy. Also present was Mona Abuamara, ambassador of Palestine to Italy.
“I am very happy to be here to speak on behalf of the Palestinian athletes and their suffering,” said Rayoub in a press conference organized by the MP and national sports manager of the Democratic Party Mauro Berruto.
Rayoub spoke of “clear violations of the Olympic charter, starting with the total destruction of all facilities and sports infrastructure in Gaza, the targeting of male and female athletes, as well as Palestinian sporting symbols, men and women.”
The complaint from the Palestinian Olympic Committee: 1,100 athletes killed
“To date we have counted 1,100 male and female athletes from individual or team sports who have been killed and a large number of these have been clearly targeted, we also have hundreds of male and female athletes who are still missing,” he listed. Many of the victims are very young, between 6 and 20 years old.
To these must be added “6,001 left disabled due to the war, consequently I imagine that we will soon have thethe largest delegation at the Paralympics, we will have a huge number of athletes for the Paralympics.”
Sport must be a bridge for peace
The Palestinian Olympic Committee added that “all sporting activities have been prohibited” throughout the territory and launched an appeal for the entire international community to take charge of the issue. “We ask that the free participation of Palestinian athletes in international competitions be guaranteed, without obstacles, and their protection from any threat or harassment – the Palestinians ask – it is time to stand alongside Palestinian athletes, to protect sport and to plant the seeds of peace and justice. Sport must be a bridge for peace and a hope for all”.
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