RAMALLAH: On Friday an open declaration of solidarity with Palestinians signed by 62 footballers from European clubs was released in response to the recent Israel-Gaza war that claimed the lives of around 170 Palestinians and five Israelis. The declaration was originally published on football player Frederic Oumar Kanoute's website. Signatories include players from clubs across the European league hailing from Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and elsewhere. The declaration also suggested that allowing Israel to host next year's UEFA Under-21 European Championship tournament is unacceptable. Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activists hailed the solidarity declaration as a major victory for their cause. “This takes the Palestinian campaign for the boycott of Israel, especially the sporting campaign, to new levels of international mainstream and prominence," wrote Ali Abuminah at Electronic Intifada. Recent BDS successes include Stevie Wonder's cancellation of a scheduled performance at a fundraiser for the Israeli military, and an open letter from Nobel Peace Laureates, academics, and intellectuals calling for a complete military boycott of Israel. The full text is available below along with the list of signatories.
