This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
On September 24, 2019, Palestinian soccer players from Gaza's Khadamat Rafah club were training in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, in preparation for the Palestinian national championship.
However, their hopes of competing against Nablus's FC Balata in the occupied West Bank were dashed when Israel denied them travel permits.
Israeli officials refused to explain the reasons behind the denial, but some media reports quoted Israeli security sources as saying that team members were believed to have links to terrorism.
Only 12 of the Gaza club's 35 members were granted permits, with only five of them being players.
The FIFA-recognised Palestine Cup in Nablus had already been postponed from July, when 31 of the Gaza club's 35 players were denied permits.
The winner of the cancelled game would have represented Palestinians in the Asian Champions League, a qualifier for the FIFA Club World Cup.
"It's a terrible feeling after training so hard," said Ahmad Abu Thuhair, a Gaza footballer whose application was rejected.
On Monday, an Israeli court upheld a decision from COGAT, Israel's military liaison to the Palestinians, to deny the Gaza players permits.
COGAT stated that each permit application is individually and thoroughly evaluated, subject to security checks, but did not provide further details.
Israel maintains tight control over Gaza's land and sea borders, citing security concerns.
Since 1967, Israel has controlled Gaza and the West Bank, and in 2005, it withdrew its settlers and troops from Gaza.
Today, the enclave is run by Hamas, which Israel and the West designate as a terrorist organisation.
"Israel is trying to paralyze Palestinian players and even the (Palestinian) sport system in general," said Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinians' FIFA member association.
Gisha, an Israeli rights group, accused Israel of violating Palestinians' right to freedom of movement.
