The large Palestinian community in Doha knew that having the globe’s attention on Qatar during the World Cup, the world’s biggest sporting event, was an opportunity, and one they do not get very often.

“The World Cup has given us a platform to make our voice heard,” Bader, a Palestinian based in Qatar, told Al Jazeera during a night of festivities in Lusail, home to Qatar’s biggest stadium, which will host the World Cup final.

Most Palestinians were out to make their presence felt, not just with the flags, but with their attire as well.

Bader wore a T-shirt with a map of Palestine and “Free Palestine” emblazoned on it, and had a Palestinian keffiyeh (scarf) and flag wrapped around his neck.

“People from all over the world are here in Qatar and when they see us dressed like this they come up to us and ask where we are from, since Palestine is not participating in the World Cup,” said Bader.

“It gives us a chance to acquaint them with the situation in our homeland, show them our culture and narrate our history.

They know about Israel but not about Palestine. There was no Israel until it occupied Palestine.”

Nearby, a group of men and women gathered in a circle and a loud cheer went up as music began playing from a speaker. As the lyrics rang out, they began singing and dancing along to a popular Palestinian song called Dammi Falastini (My Blood is Palestinian).

Bader explains that the song tells the story of Palestine.

“The lyrics are heart-wrenching and sad, but because the Israeli occupation and our inability to be in our homeland is a part of our lives, we celebrate our identity by singing and dancing along to such songs.”

Bader, who was barely audible over the loud singing and cheering, pointed out a few Moroccan, Tunisian, Egyptian and Qatari flags amongst the crowd.

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/11/24/palestinians-wave-their-flag-high-at-the-qatar-world-cup