Football players stand in solidarity with Palestinians amid recent Israeli aggression

Players, including Didier Drogba, a former Chelsea player who currently play for Shanghai Shenhua, and former Sevilla striker Frédéric Kanouté, said in a written statement that Israel’s heavy bombing, which claimed more than 100 lives, is an insult to the conscience of mankind.

The statement said Israel attacked a football pitch where several young players were playing football on Nov. 10, 2012. Muhammad Harara (16), Ahmed Harara (17), Matar Rahman (18) and Ahmed al-Dirdissawi were all killed in the attack.

The statement also said Omar Rawis (23) and Muhammad Namar (22), players from the al-Amari football club, have been in custody without trial since February.

The world-famous players pointed out that the killing of children playing football is unacceptable and that Israel, which is set to host the UEFA U-21 European Championship, is thereby having its acts, which are not in line with sports ethics, awarded.

Although a cease-fire is in place, the Palestinians struggle to live under dire conditions, the statement said, adding that the Palestinian people must be protected by the international community.

The statement concludes that the players hope that a viable solution will be found to the problem.

The list of players who signed the statement:

Gael Angoula, Bastia Sporting Club (France)

Karim Ait-Fana, Montpellier HSC (France)

André Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Jordan Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Demba Ba, Newcastle United (UK)

Abdoulaye Baldé, AC Lumezzane (Italy)

Chahir Belghazouani, AC Ajaccio (France)

Leon Best, Blackburn Rovers Football Club (UK)

Ryad Boudebouz, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France)

Yacine Brahimi, Granada Football Club (Spain)

Jonathan Bru, Melbourne Victory (Australia)

Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle United (UK)

Aatif Chahechouche, Sivasspor Kulübü (Turkey)

Pascal Chimbonda, Doncaster Rovers Football Club (UK)

Papiss Cissé, Newcastle United (UK)

Omar Daf, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France)

Issiar Dia, Lekhwiya (Qatar)

Abou Diaby, Arsenal Football Club (UK)

Alou Diarra, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Soulaymane Diawara, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Samba Diakité, Queens Park Rangers (UK)

Pape Diop, West Ham United (UK)

Abdoulaye Doucouré, Stade Rennais Football Club (France)

Didier Drogba, Shanghaï Shenhua (China)

Ibrahim Duplus, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France)

Soudani El Arabi Hilal, Vitoria Sport Club Guimares (Portugal)

Jires Kembo Ekoko, Al Ain Football Club (United Arab Emirates)

Nathan Ellington, Ipswich Town Football Club (UK)

Rod Fanni, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Doudou Jacques Faty, Sivassport Kulübü (Turkey)

Ricardo Faty, AC Ajaccio (France)

Chris Gadi, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Remi Gomis, FC Valenciennes (France)

Florent Hanin, SC Braga (Portugal)

Eden Hazard, Chelsea Football Club (UK)

Charles Kaboré, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Diomansy Kamara, Eski?ehispor Kulübü (Turkey)

Frédéric Kanouté, Beijin Guoan (China)

Anthony Le Tallec, AJ Auxerre (France)

Djamal Mahamat, Sporting Braga (Portugal)

Steve Mandanda, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Kader Manganne, Al Hilal Riyad Football Club (Saudi Arabia)

Sylvain Marveaux, Newcastle United (UK)

Nicolas Maurice-Belay, FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France)

Cheikh M’bengué, Toulouse Football Club (France)

Jérémy Menez, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France)

Arnold Mvuemba, Olympique Lyonnais (France)

Laurent Nardol, Chartres Football Club (France)

Mahamadou N’diaye, Vitoria Sport Club Guimares (Portugal)

Mamadou Niang, Al-Sadd SC (Qatar)

Mbaye Niang, SM Caen (France)

Fabrice Numeric, FK Slovan Duslo Sala (Slovakia)

Billel Omrani, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Lamine Sané, FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France)

Mamady Sidibé, Stoke City Football Club (UK)

Momo Sissoko, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France)

Cheikh Tioté, Newcastle United (UK)

AdamaTraoré, Melbourne Victory (Australia)

Armand Traoré, Queen Park Rangers FC (UK)

Djimi Traoré, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Moussa Sow, Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü (Turkey)

Hassan Yebda, Granada Football Club (Spain)

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