PRESS RELEASE

Today, outside the headquarters of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), via
Gregorio Allegri in Rome, the organizations of solidarity with the Palestinian
people have marked an important goal for the Palestinian cause.

A large group of activists has given voice to those who in Italy are supporting
Mahmoud Al Sarsak, the Palestinian football player for three months on hunger
strike and now in danger of death.

A delegation was received by the Secretary of the FIGC, Dr. Antonio Di
Sebastiano; they explained to him that Sarsak was stopped in July 2009 while
crossing the Erez checkpoint to join his team in the West Bank. Since then
Sarsak is held without trial on charges of being an illegal combatant, a
definition of convenience that allows Israel to detain a Palestinian citizen
without trial and without further evidence.

The delegation asked the FIGC and AIC to take on the situation of Mahamud Al
Sarsak and express a position of support according to humanitarian and
international laws consistent with those principles which are the statutory
references for FIGC and AIC. Few hours ago FIFA President Sepp Blatter, the
unforgettable French star Eric Cantona and many Spanish players and athletes,
including Javier Paredes (Zaragoza), Antonio López (Madrid), Carlos Gurpegui
(Athletic), Patxi Puñal (Osasuna),  expressed solidarity with Sarsak and
concern for his conditions.

The delegation delivered a letter of demands to the representative of the FIGC
and urged the Federation to signify solidarity and closeness of football
world  to Sarsak and to the Palestinian Football Federation.

Dr. Di Sebastiano said that the FIGC has just recently hosted the National
Palestinian football and its directors, stressing that sport has the purpose
and task of bringing people together and talk about peace. The FIGC has posted
on its website a
press release stating that “a delegation of representatives of
associations for Palestine met this morning with the Secretary of
FIGC Antonio Di Sebastiano, at the headquarters of Federation in via Allegri,
delivering a document to support the cause of Mahmoud Sarsak, National
Palestinian player,  prisoner in Israel for three years. Sarsak on Sunday
was transferred from Ramle prison hospital in Assaf Harofeh hospital because of
worsening of his condition caused by 87-day  hunger strike(…).” The
promoters of the event now expected a concrete action by federal managers to
save the life of Sarsak and secure his release.

To conclude,  the protesters  warned that the detention without trial
of Sarsak is a condition that involves hundreds of Palestinians, including
dozens of children  from 12 years of age, and  the conditions of over
4000 inmates in Israeli prisons  deserves the attention of people and institutions.
Too many times in history people were indifferent to this tragedy: we are no
longer willing to do so, concluded the protesters.

   Committee “With Palestine in the heart”
   Association of friends of Palestinian prisoners
   Roman net of Solidarity with Palestine
   Palestinian Youth
   PdCI
   Prc
   Friends of Palestine Red Crescent
   Palestinian community in Rome and Lazio
   A bridge to … (Un ponte per…)
   Coordination Freedom Flotilla Italy – Welcome to Palestine
   Association for Peace