Closing ceremony of the 2011 Arab Games in Doha Gaza City - Ma’an Dozens of students affiliated with the Islamic Jihad movement demonstrated in Gaza on Saturday against the way organizers of the Pan Arab games in Qatar depicted a map of Palestine. In the opening ceremony of the event some weeks ago, the West Bank and Gaza Strip were highlighted in yellow on a large-scale projection of the map of Palestine.
Protesters slammed the Qatari decision to illustrate the borders of Palestine in such a way, carrying signs which depicted maps of historic, or mandate, Palestine.
“Sorry Qatar, these are the borders of our Palestine, and historic Palestine is a red line,” some of the signs read.
“Qatar chose to go in line with the Israeli plans when the map was highlighted,” Islamic Union member Arafat Abu Zayid said.
Palestine stretches from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean sea and belongs to the Palestinian people, he added, noting that it is not possible to give up one inch of land.
He urged the Palestinian Authority to sever relations with Qatar.
The Pan Arab games finished on Dec. 23 and involved 21 countries after Syria withdrew its team.
Egypt finished top of the medals board while Palestine finished 15th.