Palestinians deny reports Israel halted refugee football pitch demolition

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Monjed JadouJanuary 21, 2026 at 10:44 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Aida refugee camp's youth center in the occupied West Bank denies reports that Israel has halted the demolition of its football pitch. Despite Israeli media reports suggesting a suspension due to international pressure, the center has received no official confirmation from Israeli authorities or the court. The "Save the Pitch" campaign was launched by the Aida Youth Centre to prevent the demolition of the camp's only sporting facility. The initial demolition order, issued on November 3rd, cited "security concerns" as the reason for the planned destruction of the pitch located near Israel's separation barrier north of Bethlehem. The community remains uncertain about the pitch's future.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) 30% Al Jazeera 40% UEFA 50% FIFA 50% Bethlehem ×260% West Bank ×260% Aida Youth Centre ×370% Munther Amira ×480% Israel ×790% Aida Refugee Camp ×590%

Keywords

football pitch demolition 100% aida refugee camp 90% demolition order 70% israeli occupation forces 70% international pressure 50% security concerns 50% west bank 40% save the pitch campaign 40%