Football is suspended by the Algerian Football Federation in “Solidarity” with the Palestinians

In solidarity of the Palestinians, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) said on Wednesday that all games had been postponed “until further notice”.

“The FAF has decided to suspend all competitions and matches until further notice,” the federation said in a statement, “expressing solidarity with the resilient, brotherly Palestinian people and out of respect for the memories of the venerable and glorious martyrs who fell victim to the savage Zionist aggressions in the Gaza Strip against the occupied Palestinian population.”

The choice was made in response to a missile attack on a hospital courtyard in Gaza, which the Islamist organization Hamas claims resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.

The governments of several Arab and Muslim nations have accepted Hamas’ claim that Israel was to fault for the attack, while Israel has given what it claims is proof that the explosion was caused by a damaged Palestinian Islamic Jihad missile.

Algeria, a longtime ally of Palestine, declared on Sunday that it was prepared to host “all the official and non-official matches of the Palestinian national football team as part of the preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2027 Asian Cup and cover all the expenses related to these events.”

As a consequence, Algeria will host the World Cup qualifier on November 21 between the Palestinian squad and Australia.