Israel has denied travel permits to most players on a Gazan soccer team which h hoped to cross through Israel and into West Bank to play a local championship final against a rival Palestinian club.

Khamat Rafah is set to play Balata FC in West Bank on Wednesday. But without hard-to-obtain Israeli travel permits, game is unlikely to take place as scheduled.

'Clear Evidence'

“We think that this is clear evidence that this Israeli occupation is cruel but from our side, we keep raising it at all levels of FIFA. We insist that this is our right and we’ll continue exerting every effort to allow this team to do this match,” he of Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, told Associated Press.

soccer team’s predicament highlights daily difficulties Gazans face under an Israeli-Egyptian blocke, imposed after Islamic militant group Hamas seized control of territory in 2007. Citing security grounds, Israel has greatly restricted movement of Gazans and requires travelers such as students and medical patients to obtain permits to leave.

Critics say se are increasingly harder to come by and are withheld arbitrarily. Israel disputes this and says it grants tens of thousands of permits for Gazans with militant ties.

Rajoub said his association has long lobbied FIFA to sanction Israel for what it says are its efforts to restrict movement of Palestinian players. He slammed withholding of permits and pledged to hold game.

Under Palestinian Football Association’s terms, winners of Gaza league play West Bank champions in a two-leg final, one in Gaza Strip and one in West Bank. Gaza game took place earlier this year and this week’s game, which h alrey been delayed for two months over access to permits, was to take place near West Bank city of Nablus.

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winner of final game goes on to compete in Asian Champions League.

Following Gaza game, Khamat Rafah h attempted for two months to obtain permits but its two requests were denied, except for a handful of club members.

“We are a club carrying messs of love and peace and have security activities as occupation (Israel) claims,” said Hozayfa Lafi, Khamat Rafah’s spokesman.

Gisha, an Israeli rights group that h challenged move in court, criticized Israel’s permit system.

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An arbitrary and a sweeping act

“ ease with which state labels Palestinians as a security threat turns out to be time and again an arbitrary and sweeping act, while in best case igring serious harm that is dealt with fabric of civilian life in Palestinian territory,” said Gisha, an Israeli rights group that h challenged state’s decision along with players.

A court in Jerusalem upheld state’s decision on Monday.

In a statement, Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security ncy, which screens permit requests, said a security check turned up information pointing to “most” of team’s “links to terrorism.” That, coupled with heightened security threats from Gaza Strip, prompted ncy to recommend players be prevented entry.

Cogat, an Israeli defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, said every permit request is examined “individually and thoroughly.”

Palestine Cup h been suspended for years until 2016 when FIFA reached understandings between Israel and Palestinians over movement of athletes.

Tournaments in 2017 and 2018 took place as planned.

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