AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Fans of Tunisia raised 'Free Palestine' flag at 48th minute against Australia to remember Nakba.
Tunisian fans unfurled a "Free Palestine" flag in the 48th minute of their Qatar World Cup match against Australia on Saturday, in reference to what is known by Arabs as the 1948 Nakba when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homeland by Zionist militias.
Despite Palestine not qualifying for the tournament, which is being held in the Middle East for the first time, its national flag has become a ubiquitous symbol throughout the event.
Tunisian and other Arab footballing fans have made a point of displaying Palestinian flags and wearing Palestinian shawls over their shoulders.
Such is this positive sentiment and regional solidarity towards Palestine that in one viral video, an Egyptian fan, smiling, leans into the camera of an Israeli broadcaster and relays a simple message: "Viva Palestine."
Social media posts in recent days show fans who, after realising they are being interviewed by Israeli media, walk away or call for the liberation of Palestine.
Even though Qatar and Israel have no official relations, for the first time, there are direct flights between Tel Aviv and Doha, with fans and diplomatic officials being allowed for the first time.
Ahead of the World Cup in Doha, hundreds of fans gathered and waved the Palestinian flag, with reports stating that it was part of an event organised by the Qatar Youth Against Normalisation group.
The Nakba, or "the catastrophe", is the name Palestinians give to the massacres and forced expulsion they endured at the hand of Zionist militias in 1948 to make way for the creation of Israel.
Entire Palestinian villages were massacred, with Zionist gangs indiscriminately killing unarmed civilians and burying some in mass graves.
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