Doha: Al-Raya newspaper, in its editorial, highlighted Qatar’s steadfast and unwavering stance in supporting the Palestinian cause and its continuous defense of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The editorial affirmed that Qatar remains at the forefront of countries providing humanitarian aid. It has operated an air bridge from King Abdullah II Air Base in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Al-Qarara in Khan Yunis Governorate in the Gaza Strip, aimed at meeting the urgent humanitarian and medical needs of the people of Gaza.
According to Qatar News Agency, the newspaper referred to the participation of HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani in a media stand organized by the Arab Group at the UN to address the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, emphasizing Qatar’s firm rejection of the use of food and humanitarian aid as a weapon of war in Gaza. The newspaper concluded its editorial by noting that Qatar’s tireless and persistent efforts continue to achieve a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
In turn, The Peninsula reported that Qatar is set to host two major FIFA tournaments at the end of this year, with the recent draws confirming the group stage line-ups for both the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the second edition of the FIFA Arab Cup. With matches scheduled back-to-back in November and December, football fans in the region are in for another packed calendar.
The editorial elaborated that the U-17 World Cup, which will be played from November 3 to 27, sees Qatar grouped in a challenging Group A alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia, adding that this marks the first time the tournament has expanded to 48 teams, spread across 12 groups. Shortly after, attention will turn to the FIFA Cup, set for December 1-18, with the opening match at Al Bayt Stadium and the final at Lusail Stadium, the venue that hosted the FIFA World Cup 2022 final.
The Peninsula concluded by noting that Qatar’s journey as a host nation for international football began gaining momentum with the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019 and peaked with the successful staging of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. With state-of-the-art venues, experienced organizing teams, and a growing base of volunteers, Qatar has continued to solidify its place on the global football map.