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In the sea of ​​cheering fans and also in the streets of Doha, a flag in the pan-Arab colors of white, black, green and red is increasingly appearing. It is hoisted mainly by football fans from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

It’s not their country’s flag. Nor is it the antagonist of the one-love path. And it’s not for football either. The state behind the flag: Palestine.

The Tunisians unfurled a Palestinian flag at the stadium during the match against Australia, while the Moroccans sang in solidarity during the match against Belgium. “To our beloved Palestine, the most beautiful of all countries”, Moroccan fans sing after the historic 2-0 victory.

But support for the Palestinians in Qatar is not limited to chanting or raising flags. Israeli journalists report hostility and confrontations with fans from the Arab world.

Although neither Palestine nor Israel participate in the tournament, the recent political flashpoint is also reflected in the first football World Cup in the Arab world.

protests and expressions of solidarity

In an allusion to the “Nakbar” (disaster), as the Arabic term describes the expulsion of hundreds of Palestinians in 1948, Tunisian fans hoist the banner reading “Free Palestine” at Al Janoub Stadium.

But football fans from the Arab world also run away from the stands in solidarity with the Palestinians. They stroll through the streets of Doha with flags and scarves over their shoulders.

One of them is Asma Jaber. His family was expelled from Palestine to Jordan in 1948. The family later moved to the United States. Asma Jaber told Al Jazeera that he had never visited his homeland. Nevertheless, his heart beats for Palestine. “I can’t put into words how I feel when my flag is raised by so many people who are not from Palestine,” said Jaber.

He continues: “It’s like all these people from all over the world are saying, ‘We love you, we know you exist and we’re by your side'”. The expressions of solidarity are said to be mainly from Muslims. Jaber says, “Muslims feel our pain, so they support us.”

He has not traveled to Qatar for football, but to use the attention to make himself heard: “Showing our identity while the whole world is watching helps our cause.”

First Israelis in Qatar

But not only people with Palestinian roots were attracted to Qatar. Thousands of Israeli football fans also reportedly traveled to Qatar, which was unusual.

Because: Qatar is actually a taboo for Israelis.

Under normal circumstances, Israeli citizens are not allowed to travel to the emirate. But as the host of the World Cup, the Gulf state must welcome people of all nationalities, including Israelis.

First direct flight from Tel Aviv to Doha

But not only the entry is historic.

During the World Cup there will be direct flights between Tel Aviv and Doha for the first time. Even before the opening ceremony, the first commercial aircraft of the Cypriot airline Tus Airways landed. “History has been made,” Lior Haiat, spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry, said in an interview with the French news agency AFP.

And not only that.

A kosher kitchen has been set up near the airport for the expected 20,000 or so Israelis.

It is unclear whether Palestinians also benefit from the direct flights. Access to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv is strictly restricted for people from the West Bank. The people of Gaza have no access to Israel at all.

Unwanted Israeli journalists

However, the Israelis do not seem so welcome in the emirate. Reports of hostilities and anti-Semitism are piling up. “We feel hatred and are not wanted here,” he writes Israeli journalist Raz Shechnik on Twitter. He reports that people behind him waved Palestinian flags, shouted at him and insulted him.

He’s not the only one.

Another Israeli reporter was rebuked by a Saudi fan during a live broadcast: “You are not welcome here. This is Qatar. This is our country”.

The fan continues: “There is no Israel. Only Palestine.”

The rejection does not only come from abroad. Another Israeli journalist asked two people from the host country for an interview. When he identified himself as a journalist from Israel, the two Qataris ran away.

Due to the circumstances, reporter Raz Shechnik is now posing as a journalist from Ecuador. Actually, he didn’t want to write about it, but after all the perceived animosity, he decided to report it.

Iranian fans celebrate Israeli

But football also writes great stories in Qatar.

Including that of the Israeli journalist Uri Levy, who painted the Iranian national colors and was honored for the action. The scene is notable because the two countries are considered archenemies.