In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the Palestine soccer team has decided to withdraw from a scheduled tournament in Malaysia, as confirmed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) on Tuesday.
The Merdeka Cup, an international friendly tournament in Malaysia featuring teams from India, Tajikistan, and the host nation, Malaysia, was originally slated to take place from October 13 to 17. However, due to the prevailing tense situation, the Palestinian team could not travel to Kuala Lumpur, leading to their withdrawal from the 42nd edition of the competition.
Israeli TV channels have reported a rising death toll of Israelis, reaching 900 in the wake of the Hamas attack over the weekend, with over 2,600 injuries and dozens taken captive. In response, Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported at least 687 Palestinian casualties as a result of Israeli retaliatory airstrikes on the blockaded enclave.
Looking ahead, the Palestinian soccer team has crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lebanon and Australia scheduled for November. Additionally, they have successfully qualified for the upcoming Asian Cup in Qatar, slated to run from January 12 to February 10 next year.
