QFA President Attends Inauguration of Pele International Stadium in Bethlehem
A significant event took place in Bethlehem as the Pele International Stadium was inaugurated, marking a new chapter in Palestinian sports history. Dignitaries from the football world gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA), was invited to attend by Lieutenant-General Jibril Rajoub, the Palestinian Minister of Sports and President of the Palestinian Football Association.
The grand opening of the stadium coincided with the anniversary of Nakba Day, adding even more significance to the event.
Among the esteemed guests present were Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, the President of the Jordan Football Association and the West Asian Federation, and Hani Abu Raida, Vice-President of the Arab Football Association and member of the FIFA Council.
Mohamed Shtayyeh, Palestine Prime Minister, held a meeting with Sheikh Hamad to discuss mutual interests and strategies for strengthening ties in various football-related aspects. This meeting highlighted the strong relations between Qatar and Palestine.
In recognition of Sheikh Hamad remarkable sporting career and his efforts to enhance Qatari-Palestinian brotherly relations, Shtayyeh, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas, awarded the Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem to the QFA President.
During his visit, Sheikh Hamad also took the time to visit the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem. The camp holds historical significance as it was once known as the "camp of mass incarceration" during the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
Dheisheh Camp, located in the southern West Bank encompassing Bethlehem and Hebron, is the largest refugee camp in the area. It has been a hub of political and cultural activism, as well as institution building, both before and after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Established in 1949 on 0.31 square kilometers of land leased by the Jordanian government to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Dheisheh Camp remains an important symbol of resilience and perseverance for the Palestinian people.