Occupation authorities arrest two Palestinian national team players and extend their detention

Official Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli occupation police detained Rand Helwani, a player for the Palestinian Women's National Football Team, after she was summoned for questioning at one of their centers in occupied Jerusalem. The Palestinian Football Association clarified that the 20-year-old player was arrested immediately upon her arrival at the 'Talpiot' police station, located west of Jerusalem, a move that reflects the continued targeting of Palestinian sports personnel.\n\nFor its part, the media office of the Jerusalem Governorate confirmed that the occupation authorities decided to refer player Helwani to court after questioning her on Tuesday, where a decision was issued to extend her detention until next Friday. These measures come amid silence from the Israeli security apparatus, which has not provided any official clarifications regarding the background of this sudden detention of the Palestinian athlete.\n\nIn a related context, Israeli army forces launched a raid campaign targeting student housing north of Ramallah, resulting in the arrest of Natalie Abu Diyeh, a former national team player and a student in the media department at Birzeit University. Sources from the university and the association stated that the arrest took place after storming and searching her residence, which sparked a wave of condemnation in academic and sports circles.\n\nThe arrest campaign was not limited to female players but also included other female students from Birzeit University, as the university administration reported the arrest of students Golan Abu Awwad and Sama Safi, in addition to graduate Laila Nael Khalil. A statement issued by the occupation army claimed that the four young women are suspected of engaging in activities it describes as hostile, charges often used to justify political arrests.\n\nThe Palestinian Football Association condemned these practices, describing them as a blatant violation of international conventions and universal sports values that guarantee freedom of movement and safety for athletes. The association issued an urgent appeal to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), demanding it take concrete and immediate measures to hold the occupation authorities accountable for these transgressions that violate the regulations of the international football system.\n\nOn the religious front, the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Imad Haddad, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of detainee Natalie Abu Diyeh, noting that she is an active member of the Reform Church in Beit Jala. The Bishop expressed his deep concern over the fate of Natalie, who is now among thousands of Palestinians held in prisons without clear charges or fair trials.\n\nIn a detailed report by the Palestinian Prisoner's Club, a significant increase in the number of female prisoners in occupation prisons was revealed, reaching 89 detainees, including three children and three pregnant women. The report indicated that the majority of these female prisoners are held in 'Damon' prison in Haifa, where they face extremely difficult living and health conditions that lack the most basic human necessities.\n\n"The Prisoner's Club clarified that female prisoners are subjected to systematic policies of abuse, including deliberate starvation and medical neglect, in addition to solitary confinement and physical and verbal assaults during searches. The cells also suffer from severe overcrowding, forcing many detainees to sleep on the floor due to the lack of adequate blankets and beds, which exacerbates their daily suffering.\n\nRecent statistics issued by human rights organizations indicate that the total number of Palestinian prisoners in occupation prisons has exceeded 9,400 detainees, distributed among various detention centers. These figures reflect the scale of the continuous Israeli escalation since late last month, which has affected all segments of Palestinian society, including women, children, and athletes.\n\nIn conclusion, human rights activists and national institutions demand urgent international intervention to stop these violations and ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians and athletes under occupation. The case of players Helwani and Abu Diyeh remains a symbol of the significant challenges facing Palestinian sports in light of strict security restrictions and continuous persecutions aimed at undermining Palestinian presence in international forums.\n\nThe arrest of players Helwani and Abu Diyeh represents a blatant violation of all values upon which sports are based, and international laws and conventions.