The Palestinian Football Association says two members of the Palestine women’s national team — 20‑year‑old Rand Halawani and Natalie Abu Dayeh — were detained by Israeli forces in separate Tuesday incidents. The FA called the arrests part of a systematic pattern targeting Palestinian athletes and urged FIFA to enforce its human‑rights statutes. Birzeit University condemned the detentions, while Israeli authorities accused the women of promoting terrorist activities. The arrests occur against a backdrop of documented civilian and athlete casualties since October 2023.
Two Palestine Women’s National Team Players Detained Amid Rising Tensions — FA Calls for FIFA Action
Two Palestine women’s national team players abducted by occupying Israeli forces
Two members of the Palestine women’s national football team were detained by Israeli authorities in separate incidents on Tuesday, the Palestinian Football Association (FA) said. The FA identified 20-year-old Rand Halawani as being held in prolonged detention and named Natalie Abu Dayeh (reported in some accounts as Abu Diyeh) as another player arrested from student accommodation in the occupied West Bank.
FA Condemns Detentions and Urges International Action
The Palestinian FA strongly condemned the arrests, calling them part of “a well-documented pattern of systemic targeting of Palestinian athletes.” The association urged international bodies, including FIFA, to enforce human-rights and non-discrimination statutes and to take decisive measures to protect athletes and preserve the integrity of the game.
“Their arrest is not an isolated incident, it is part of a well-documented pattern of systemic targeting of Palestinian athletes, which continues without accountability,” the FA said.
Arrests, Accusations and Local Response
Israeli military officials said the detainees were accused of "promoting terrorist activities and additional terrorist-related activities." Critics of such measures say similar allegations are frequently used to obtain arrest warrants for Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories.
Birzeit University, where one of the players was a student, denounced the raids and described the detentions as part of what it called Israel’s "systemic policies targeting Palestinian education and students' right to continue their academic journey." The university said the arrests occurred alongside the detention of three other Palestinian women.
Wider Context: Sport and Civilian Toll
Earlier reporting has highlighted the severe impact of the wider conflict on Palestinian sport: an October 2024 Al Jazeera report documented 410 athletes, coaches or sports officials killed in Palestine, including 297 footballers. Observers note that casualty figures since then — particularly through 2026 — are likely higher and harder to verify amid continuing hostilities.
The United Nations reported in April 2026 that at least 269 Palestinians were killed and 4,081 injured in the West Bank alone, bringing the cumulative toll in that territory since October 2023 to 1,104 fatalities and 11,484 injuries.
Journeys to Compete
Previous coverage has also documented the dangerous and exhausting journeys Palestinian players endure to compete internationally. Former teammate Charlotte Phillips recalled how players from Bethlehem can spend an entire day traveling to cross checkpoints and reach the Jordanian border, often in extreme heat and carrying all their equipment — routes that place them at risk of arrest or worse.
What Comes Next
The Palestinian FA has called on FIFA and other international sports bodies to respond. Human-rights groups, sporting federations and governments may face increasing pressure to assess the situation and consider measures to protect players, ensure access to education and sport, and investigate alleged abuses.
Photo caption from original coverage: Fans of Palestine show their support, Bilbao, Spain.
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