Palestinian Under -20 National Football Team Player, Family Killed in Israeli Airstrike

A recent Israeli airstrike in eastern Khan Younis (Gaza) killed the 21-year-old, who played for the Ittihad Khan Younis club and represented Palestine’s under-20 national team in 2021, according to reports.

Among the victims was 21-year-old Imad Abu Tima, among some 400 athletes reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes, sniper fire or buried under debris, according to the Palestine National Olympic Committee.

The situation has reignited calls for FIFA to act on Israel's participation in international competitions. During the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok on May 17, Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub urged FIFA to consider suspending the Israel Football Association (IFA) due to systematic violations of FIFA statutes and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “I ask you to stand on the right side of history and vote now,” he implored FIFA officials.

In response, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that the organization would seek legal counsel before deciding on the matter, to be addressed in a special session of the FIFA Council in late July. However, on July 19, FIFA stated that "more time is needed," postponing a resolution until at least August 31, 2024.

As the August deadline passed without resolution, FIFA delayed its consideration of the Palestinian request again, stating that the assessment would be presented at its next meeting in October.

This postponement has frustrated Palestinian officials, who have long called for action against the IFA for its alleged involvement in illegal activities related to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

FIFA has recently initiated a disciplinary inquiry into allegations of discrimination raised by Palestinian soccer officials and is investigating the participation of Israeli teams based in occupied territories. Palestinian officials accuse the IFA of complicity in violations of international law and discrimination against Arab players.

This occurs against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has damaged football infrastructure, suspended domestic leagues, and forced the national team to relocate for World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, Israel continues to compete in international fixtures, highlighting the stark disparity in experiences between athletes from both sides.