Israel-Palestine Conflict: Irfan Pathan, Babar Azam and More - How Cricketers voiced opinion for Palestine in the past

Israel and Palestine are at crossroads yet again. The two neighboring countries are currently at odds currently and the political unrest has already claimed lives.

The early hours of Saturday saw Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement, unleash an unprecedented onslaught on Israel with the launching of thousands of rockets from Gaza and dispatching its fighters to the border.

The attack led to a major loss of human life on both sides - Israeli officials reported around 300 deaths, while Palestine confirmed the loss of over 232 lives. In response to the violent assault, Israel has declared war on Hamas and initiated airstrikes.

This is not the first time these two countries have involved themselves in conflict. In 2021, Israel made an attack on Palestine and several people lost their lives in Gaza. Israel launched attack at the Al-Aqsa mosque which induced a lot of heat around the world.

Several acclaimed cricketers like Hasim Amla, Irfan Pathan, Kagiso Rabada, and Babar Azam, expressed their support towards the Palestinian cause at that time.

Expressing Solidarity through Social Media Channels

Irfan Pathan, the celebrated Indian cricketer turned commentator, fervently expressed his sentiments towards the ongoing situation in Palestine. Sharing his stance via a tweet, he stated that anyone with the 'slightest of humanity' should not condone the happenings in Palestine.

Emotions ran high amongst the Pakistani cricketer community as well. Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, sympathetically tweeted his prayers for the people of strife-ridden Palestine, emphasizing the significance of humanity at that time.

As the tensions escalated, English cricketer Moeen Ali chose a symbolic form of protest by wearing 'Save Palestine' bands. Moeen's silent but potent form of demonstration was hugely applauded by fans and fellow players.

Rashid Khan, the iconic Afghanistan spinner, and star player of Sunrisers Hyderabad also extended his heartfelt sympathies to the people of Palestine as well as Afghanistan.

Another noteworthy sentiment came from cricketer Azhar Ali who asserted his stance against the 'unjust acts of terrorism and cruelty' happening in Palestine, a sentiment that finds widespread resonance. He further made an earnest request to everyone to pray for the situation in Palestine, particularly given the ongoing holy month of Ramadan.

Similarly, cricket stalwarts like Darren Sammy, Kagiso Rabada, and Hashim Amla lent their voices in support of the Palestinian cause.

Hashim Amla, through a detailed Instagram post, drew parallels between the current situation and the trials faced by Nelson Mandela, effectively highlighting the dire circumstances.