A Palestinian group has appealed to Fifa to intervene to stop the planned Israeli demolition of a football pitch in the occupied West Bank used by children and players who have represented Palestine in women's football at the international youth level.
In a letter seen by Middle East Eye - dated 6 January and addressed to Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis - Munther Amira, a board director of the Aida Youth Centre, stated that Israeli authorities had notified the centre on 31 December that the pitch would be demolished within a week.
“This is a clear and callous attempt to deprive Palestinians, including hundreds of boys and girls, of a facility that is of critical importance to their physical and mental welfare,” the letter said.
“This pitch is in constant use… It is a rare place of hope and joy for children who endure severe hardship,” it added.
The artificial pitch was installed in 2021 on land owned by the Armenian Church in Aida refugee camp, on the outskirts of Bethlehem, close to Israel’s separation wall.
