Get you up to speed: Palestinian club football to restart in September after Gaza war suspension
The Palestinian Football Association has announced the resumption of sports activities, including professional football, beginning September 4, 2026, after a suspension that lasted nearly three years due to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The first tournament, named the “Thousand Martyrs’ Cup,” will feature over 200 clubs from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza, and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
The Palestinian Football Association’s league will commence on September 4, with over 200 clubs participating in the “Thousand Martyrs’ Cup.” The association is urging FIFA and other federations to support Palestinian sports while expressing concerns about financial conditions and the need for equity in international regulations.
The Palestinian Football Association has announced the resumption of league activities on September 4, following a near three-year suspension due to the conflict. Association President Jibril Rajoub has called on FIFA to support Palestinian sports and impose sanctions on Israeli clubs operating in the occupied West Bank, emphasising the need for legitimate rights under international sporting laws.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the resumption of football activities will affect the financial circumstances of Palestinian clubs.
Palestinian club football set to resume in September after war suspension
Sport|FootballPalestinian club football to restart in September after Gaza war suspension
Palestinian sports leagues, including professional football, were halted due to Israel’s genocidal war on Palestinians.
Published On 10 Aug 202610 Aug 2026
The Palestinian Football Association has announced that it will resume activity in September after a nearly three-year pause due to Israel’s genocidal war on Palestinians in Gaza.
“We announce the resumption of sports activities and the football association’s league beginning September 4,” association President Jibril Rajoub said at a Ramallah news conference on Monday.
Palestinian sports leagues, including professional football, came to a halt after the war began on October 7, 2023.
The association has named the first tournament back the “Thousand Martyrs’ Cup”, to honour the 1,014 Palestinian athletes killed by Israel during the war, according to the association’s data.
More than 200 clubs will compete in the tournament, including 146 from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, 44 from Gaza, and 36 from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
The tournament will kick off simultaneously in the three locations.
Rajoub said the war “created difficult conditions for all Palestinians that led to the suspension of our competitions and activities”.
“But we have not lost our Palestinian national will, nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life,” he said.
Rajoub noted that the association and Palestinian clubs faced tough financial circumstances.
During the news conference, he called on FIFA and other federations to stand by Palestinian sports and to protect the rights of players, clubs and children to enjoy sports in “freedom and dignity”.
The association previously issued a statement regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s now-withdrawn plan to open tournaments to private investors, saying “many today are questioning FIFA’s commercial direction”.
“But for Palestine, the issue is more fundamental … Our question is whether FIFA still has the courage to apply its regulations to everyone equally … without succumbing to political pressures,” Rajoub said.
The association has called on FIFA to impose sanctions on Israeli clubs that operate in occupied West Bank settlements and to suspend Israel’s FIFA membership over the country’s conduct in Gaza.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.
“We are not asking for privileges; we are demanding legitimate rights guaranteed by international sporting laws and charters,” Rajoub said.