Palestine launches ‘1000 Martyrs Cup’ to honour 1,014 athletes killed by Israel

The Head of the Palestinian Supreme Council for Youth and Sports announced on Monday the launch of the “1000 Martyrs Cup” tournament to commemorate 1,014 Palestinian athletes killed during the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Joseph Blatter Football Academy in al-Bireh in the occupied West Bank, Jibril Rajoub stated that the cup will bear the names of the Palestinian sports figures who lost their lives in the Israeli attacks. He noted that the list includes Olympic athletes, national team members, club and federation presidents, referees, and coaches.

Rajoub explained that the tournament will feature three distinct cups: a “Central Cup” based in Jerusalem, alongside two additional cups contested by athletes in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

He emphasized that the initiative aims to immortalize the memory of the fallen athletes while signalling the resilience and continuation of the Palestinian sports movement, despite the harsh conditions imposed by the war.

The Palestinian Football Association had previously announced in early July its intention to resume football activities, including training and matches, during the first week of September across the Gaza Strip, the diaspora, and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.