Soccer followers wave Palestinian flags on the AFC Asian Cup Group C soccer match between Hong Kong and the Palestinian soccer group.

Giuseppe Cacace/AFP through Getty Images

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Giuseppe Cacace/AFP through Getty Images

Soccer followers wave Palestinian flags on the AFC Asian Cup Group C soccer match between Hong Kong and the Palestinian soccer group.

Giuseppe Cacace/AFP through Getty Images

TEL AVIV, Israel — There had been tears of pleasure on the soccer discipline Tuesday because the Palestinian nationwide group beat Hong Kong 3-0 within the AFC Asian Cup.

The group made history because it secured its place within the knockout levels of the match for the primary time.

The Asian Cup — hosted in Doha, Qatar, this 12 months — is the highest soccer occasion within the area.

The stadium erupted with pleasure, chanting “Palestine! Palestine!” and waving Palestinian flags and keffiyehs.

The win is a vivid spot throughout a tough time as the Israel-Hamas war rages in Gaza, resulting in widespread destruction and a extreme humanitarian disaster. Gaza’s well being ministry has stated Israel’s assault has killed greater than 25,000 Palestinians, nearly all of that are ladies and youngsters. It has been a response to the Oct. 7 assault in Israel during which Hamas militants killed about 1,200 folks and kidnapped roughly 250 others.

In the West Bank metropolis of Ramallah, espresso outlets had been full of folks watching the match for the primary time for the reason that starting of the conflict, and the environment was festive.

Players from the Palestinian soccer group have a good time their second purpose 2023 AFC Asian Cup soccer match with Hong Kong.

Giuseppe Cacace/AFP through Getty Images

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Giuseppe Cacace/AFP through Getty Images

Players from the Palestinian soccer group have a good time their second purpose 2023 AFC Asian Cup soccer match with Hong Kong.

Giuseppe Cacace/AFP through Getty Images

Waleed Abdullah stated he celebrated the win along with his son at a café.

“We were so happy and the result was incredible,” he stated. “The Palestinian people need hope, want something to be happy about, to feel alive, to want to love life.”

Mohamed Aweida from Jerusalem watched the match along with his buddies and stated the win was an unbelievable accomplishment.

“I’ve had no appetite to do anything [enjoyable] lately,” he stated. “But this is our national team, and I had to support it.”

Like round a lot of the Middle East, soccer is a favourite pastime amongst Palestinians. But it has by no means been simple for the group. Israeli legal guidelines have hindered the gamers’ mobility inside the nation and overseas, and have made it tough to move tools. Israel has additionally typically refused to issue exit visas to players based mostly within the occupied territories.

“Preparing for the Cup has been a challenge,” ahead Tamer Seyam informed NPR. “It was hard for us to get together [as a team], and training was suspended from the beginning of the war.”

The Palestinian group will play both Qatar or Australia on Sunday.

Nuha Musleh contributed to reporting.