Bethlehem / PNN /

As part of an international campaign to save Aida Refugee Camp’s football pitch, the Aida Youth Centre, Ad Sports Club and the Awdah Scout Group organised a series of activities for children enrolled in the centre’s programmes and their families under the slogan “We Will Continue – Save the Pitch.”

The events included recreational and sporting activities, as well as drawing sessions, with hundreds of children from the centre and Aida camp taking part. Through these activities, the children reaffirmed their attachment to the pitch and their right to play there, describing it as their “space of hope.”

Munther Amira, head of the Aida Social Youth Centre, said the message of the activities opposing Israel’s decision to demolish the pitch was clear: children will continue to play and insist on their right to do so, in line with international laws protecting children in times of war.

Amira added that the international campaign launched to reject the demolition decision underscores that Palestinians “love life as much as possible and make every effort to achieve it,” stressing that the pitch symbolises life and hope for the camp’s children.

He noted that the campaign includes local and international activities, including Thursday’s event held under the title “We Continue Life and Play on the Pitch,” thanking all those who have supported and continue to support the children and their playground.

Mohammad Bassem Abu Srour, a board member of the Aida Social Youth Centre and coordinator of the international solidarity campaign, said the event aimed to reassure children and families that they are not alone, and that there is growing local and international support against the demolition decision.

Abu Srour said the pitch has become an international cause defended by “people of conscience” around the world, just as they stand up for Palestine.

He explained that the event was held in two parts. The first included recreational, sporting and artistic activities for children, Ad Sports Club players and their families. Training sessions, games and drawing activities allowed children to express their fears and rejection of the demolition decision.

The second part featured American influencer and children’s presenter Rachel Taddler, who joined via a live video link. Taddler, a singer and social media content creator for children, has more than 18.5 million subscribers on YouTube alone, with hundreds of millions of views across her videos.

Children gathered in front of a large screen set up on the pitch, where Abu Srour introduced them to Taddler. She then delivered a message expressing solidarity with the children of Aida camp, rejecting the demolition decision and affirming her support for them.

Several children and Ad Sports Club players spoke to Taddler, thanking her for her supportive stance. She responded warmly, thanking them for their words and expressing happiness to have followers from Aida camp and Palestine, pledging to continue supporting them in the future.