Israel denies halting demolition of Palestinian refugee football pitch

Demolition of Football Pitch in Palestinian Refugee Camp Sparks Uncertainty

A demolition order for a football pitch in the Aida refugee camp has not been officially confirmed by Israel, according to the Aida Youth Centre. The centre’s head, Munther Amira, stated that no formal notification had been received from the court or Israeli authorities regarding the halt of demolition plans.

The Aida Youth Centre launched an international campaign, “Save the Pitch,” in November to prevent the destruction of the football pitch, which is the only sporting facility in the camp. The centre’s lawyers have not received any official response confirming reports that Israel had suspended the demolition order due to international pressure from FIFA and UEFA.

The first demolition order was issued on November 3, citing “security concerns” related to the proximity of the pitch to the separation wall adjacent to the camp. A second demolition order was issued on December 31, but a petition by the Popular Committee for Services resulted in a delay until January 18. The Israeli army granted an additional seven days to carry out the demolition themselves.

The Palestinian Football Association has stated that the demolition order violates the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and deprives hundreds of children of their right to practice sport in a safe environment. The Aida Youth Centre’s football team expressed sadness over the demolition order, with players questioning the reason behind it and the potential danger posed by the pitch.

The land where the football pitch is located was leased to the Armenian Church, and an agreement with the Bethlehem Municipality allowed for its use. However, Israel has prevented the construction of a public garden on the site and issued repeated demolition orders against the pitch.

Source: Al Jazeera