FIFA has announced that an agreement has been reached regarding the temporary operation of direct charter flights between Tel Aviv and Doha by an airline that holds advance landing rights in Qatar for the duration of the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the agreement would allow Palestinian and Israeli fans to visit Qatar and attend matches.
For his part, a spokesperson for the 2022 World Cup said that since Qatar won the rights to host the tournament, it has confirmed the ability of all ticket holders to attend the matches, noting that the announcement represents Qatar's commitment to respecting FIFA's policies and hosting requirements.
The agreement stipulates that ticket holders and Palestinian media are allowed to travel on chartered flights without restrictions because they have an equal right for everyone to enjoy the premium tournament.
"Since winning the rights to host the 2022 World Cup, we have always assured that all ticket holders will be able to attend matches in Qatar," a Qatari official told AFP. "Today's announcement confirms our commitment to respecting (FIFA) policies and hosting requirements, including Everyone has the right to attend matches.
According to the official, according to the agreement concluded by Qatar with the FIFA, "the Palestinians will be able to enjoy the first World Cup in the Arab and Islamic world," stressing that "Qatar's position on normalization has not changed and is still closely linked to the solution of the Palestinian issue, including Including the two-state solution in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
The Qatari official pointed out that "recently, we have not witnessed any positive developments in the peace process that merit a change in our policy," stressing that the continuation of this agreement is linked to the Israeli non-escalation in the Palestinian territories, whether in Jerusalem, Gaza or the West Bank.
For its part, the US State Department welcomed the agreement during the World Cup, describing it as a "historic development."
The State Department added that it welcomes the statement that the move will benefit Palestinian and Israeli football followers, and that it is a step to expand freedom of travel for all in line with Qatar's promise that everyone is welcome at the World Cup.