In the wake of the controversy surrounding Mohammad Rizwan‘s social media post on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Pakistan cricket team has boldly shared its support for Palestine. Despite the criticism faced by Rizwan, key players such as Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz took to their social media handles to openly endorse Palestine, sharing a photo of the Palestinian flag.
Joining the solidarity movement were several other Pakistani players, including Iftikhar Ahmad, Usama Mir, Abid Ali, Kamran Akmal, Azhar Ali, Noman Ali, Amer Yamin, Wasim Junior, Sohail Tanveer, Muhammad Abbas, Faheem Ashraf, Sahibzada Farhan, and more. This collective stance sent a strong message of unity with Palestine and the people of Gaza.
The Israel-Palestine conflict, a long-standing source of tension, recently witnessed a disturbing incident where an Israeli airstrike hit Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. This hospital served as a refuge for thousands of innocent civilians seeking medical treatment and safety from Israel’s relentless bombing campaign.
The aftermath of the airstrike revealed a staggering toll of at least 500 casualties, according to the Gaza health ministry. Additionally, a school acting as a shelter for refugees fell victim to air strikes. Describing the hospital attack as “one of the deadliest in the history of the conflict” and condemning it as an “act of genocide,” a spokesperson for Palestinian Civil Defence highlighted the severity of the situation.
Muhammad Rizwan, who had earlier dedicated his century in a record-breaking chase against Sri Lanka to the ‘brothers and sisters in Gaza,’ continued to face backlash from fans for his support of Palestine. Notably, as tensions escalate, Pakistan is set to play a crucial World Cup match against Australia in Bengaluru on October 20, adding another layer of significance to the team’s unwavering stance on the issue.