“For this she should be banned from tour immediately” – Ons Jabeur’s statement over the ongoing Israel-Palestine War has fans divided over the Tunisian’s stance

Ons Jabeur’s feelings about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine have caused a discourse within the tennis community. The Tunisian player made her stance clear on the matter in an Instagram post.

The world no. 7 condemned the violence on both sides and expressed her sadness over the loss of innocent lives. However, Jabeur was seen standing in solidarity with the Palestinians. She wrote that she would never stand for people having their lands taken away. The Wimbledon Grand Slam finalist revealed that her loyalties lie with Palestine, as she ended her statement with the hashtag ‘#FreePalestine’.

The Israel-Palestine dispute has been going on for a century. Recently, the militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, launched an unprecedented attack that took the lives of over 250 civilians. A larger number of people have been abducted by the group.

Israel, in retaliation, has announced a siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting its supplies of electricity, fuel, food, goods, and water. The warfare has resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel, while the death toll in Gaza has reached 1,000 due to the Israeli air strikes.

Also Read: Ben Shelton has a new fan in Greg Rusedski who praises the ‘old school power tennis’ of the American 

Mixed comments from tennis fans regarding Jabeur’s stance

Fans on Twitter have varied opinions on the Tunisian’s comments on the dispute. Some believe that her views support the militant organization Hamas, which has been associated with serious human rights violations and cruelty. Hamas, or in some cases, its military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, has been designated a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and the UK, as well as other powers. Therefore, supporting it is seen as controversial.

Some believe that Hamas doesn’t fully represent the Palestinian people. Their main reason for supporting Palestine is because they believe that Israel occupied Palestine and displaced many Palestinians from their homes. It is not a support for the war but for the innocent people who have lost their homes and consequently their land.

Here are some of the tweets on the discourse:

Although Jabeur has put out her strong opinions, the growing need for peace in the Middle East leaves little room for hope that the atrocities will cease sometime soon. Unless there is a direct intervention or a ceasefire by an international organization, such as the United Nations, the fate of countless innocent civilians glooms with tumultuous foreboding unrest.

In case you missed it:

• Carlos Alcaraz praises Grigor Dimitrov for high-level during their Shanghai Masters clash, admits the Bulgarian kept him on the ropes throughout
• Novak Djokovic condemns the ATP for its silence on players’ complaints over the quality of balls, voices support, and demands a resolution for it
• Follow FirstSportz on WhatsApp Channel

Stay Updated!

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW