A fan raised a Palestine flag during the Morocco vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 third-place game at the Khalifa Stadium on Saturday. 

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The Palestine flag has been a regular sight at this year’s World Cup. Along with LGBTQ+ rights and the mistreatment of migrant workers, Palestinian rights have also been a major flash point at the games. When Morocco reached the quarterfinals after beating Spain, the players’ celebration on the field included hoisting the Palestinian flag. Fans have held signs that read “Free Palestine” in the stands and hung them from stadium walls.

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During the France-Tunisia game, a fan evaded security, running across the field while flying past Palestine’s standard. It has been quite a display of pro-Palestine solidarity. The Palestinian activism around the World Cup should not have surprised anyone considering the tournament’s venue and a large number of Middle Eastern fans in attendance.  

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During the Tunisia and Australia game, several videos captured thousands of fans chanting slogans of a free Palestine. Attendees also held up a large banner for Palestine. Other videos showed people wearing pro-Palestine memorabilia, from flags to armbands, to keffiyehs to scarves.

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The support also raised questions about why the Palestinian national team did not participate in the World Cup despite being held in the Middle East. Fans from Western countries also voiced their support for Palestine and easily took up and wore Palestinian flags.