Palestine's UK envoy praises football club Forest Green Rovers for flying Palestinian flag

Palestine’s ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot praised the chairman of an English football club after it flew Palestine’s national flag during a match at its stadium.

Dale Vince, who presides over League Two team Forest Green Rovers FC, said the flag was raised in solidarity with the Palestinian people and compared the violence and occupation faced by Palestinians to the current plight of Ukrainians.

In response to the gesture, Zomlot sent an acknowledgment letter to the Gloucestershire-based club, and even invited the team to visit occupied Palestine.

I extend our heartfelt appreciation for your solidarity with the people and righteous cause of Palestine. We look forward to the day @FGRFC_Official visit Palestine for a friendly match in Jerualem, the liberated capital of Palestine. Thank you @DaleVince ✊🏽🙏🏽#Palestine #FGR https://t.co/oej5V1GK8d

— Husam Zomlot (@hzomlot) April 23, 2022

Earlier this week, Vince had published a series of tweets where he drew parallels between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Vince said both territories are suffering from invasion, sieges, and occupation, with civilians being killed and hospitals and homes being destroyed.

"Palestine has been under siege by Israel - by air, land and sea, for decades. The US allows this, pumps billions into Israel to support its economy and military and uses its veto to block any meaningful action by the UN," he said.

We flew this flag at FGR’s game today. In solidarity with Palestine.

The conflict there has all the same ingredients as the one in Ukraine - invasion, occupation, murder of civilians, destruction of homes and hospitals - and sieges. pic.twitter.com/D6a2nqCuMz

— Dale Vince (@DaleVince) April 18, 2022

Several footballers and UK football fans have shown solidarity with Palestine over the years, notably the Scottish Premiership club Celtic FC, who often fly the flag in honour of Palestinians.

Other footballers, such as Manchester United's Paul Pogba and Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez, have waved the flag to show Palestine solidarity.

Their gestures came as Israel waged an 11-day war on the besieged Gaza Strip in May last year, which killed more than 200 Palestinians.

In the last fortnight, Israeli forces and settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on multiple occasions as Palestinian Muslims observe Ramadan.

Hundreds have been injured and arrested this month in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, both of which Israel has occupied since 1967.