key points
- This week, Morocco became the first Middle Eastern or African team to reach the FIFA World Cup semi-final.
- During the tournament, the national team has raised the Palestinian flag with pride.
- Here's what the Palestinian flag represents, and why the Atlas Lions are showcasing it.
At the FIFA World Cup, the most poignant form of patriotism rests in the flag that represents the countries on the pitch.
Morocco shocked the world with thrilling upsets, first against Spain, , in the tournament this week.
After its victory against Spain the team unravelled a flag high up in the air, but it wasn't Morocco's emblem of the five-pointed green star swimming in a sea of red.
Instead, Morocco's national team donned the Palestinian flag.
Achraf Dari of Morocco celebrates with the Palestinian flag after beating Portugal in the World Cup quarter-final. Source: AAP / EPA / Abedin Taherkenareh
Anas Iqtait, lecturer in Middle Eastern politics at the Australian National University, said the overwhelming support for the Palestinian people - represented by its flag - is part of a larger form of Arab nationalism.
"The Palestinian flag has long represented Arab nationalism, which was a project that obviously saw its height in the middle of the 20th century," Dr Iqtait said.
A member of Morocco's team held a Palestinian flag after the team won the Round of 16 match against Spain. Source: Getty / AFP / Karim Jaafar
, keffiyehs (the custom Palestinian scarf) and banners have been a notable presence throughout the entire tournament.
"I'm not surprised to see this level of support, particularly with relation to football," Dr Iqtait said.
The Palestinian flag carries a form of nationalism that binds all Arab countries together by the nature of the design itself, he said.
"To a large extent, the Palestinian cause has been the most important cross-border, Arab cause that Arab populations - from Morocco to Iraq - have taken on," Dr Iqtait said.
The current Palestinian flag largely resembles - and is inspired by - the flag that represented the Arab Revolt in the 1910s, a nationalist movement that pushed for collective Arab independence.
Dr Iqtait said that Arab solidarity with Palestinian people, who have faced ongoing conflict across the Palestinian territories since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, is creatively expressed in ways that extend beyond the waving of their flag.
Through pop culture, song, dance and poetry, support for Palestinians is always there, he said.
"This heritage is there and when given the chance, as we see in Qatar for the first time, we see it come to the surface," Dr Iqtait said.
Palestinians celebrated the Morocco quarter-final victory at a live viewing site in Gaza. Source: AAP / AP / Fatima Shbair
Fans in Doha sang the lyrics that roughly translate to: The eyes have been tearing up, my beloved Palestine. While the Arabs are sleeping, the most beautiful country, resist, May God protect you ... We won't leave you alone Gaza, even though you are far away from us."
World Cup sees wave of Palestinian solidarity
Solidarity has been expressed in other forms, too. Fans from across the globe who are attending matches throughout the tournament have showcased the Palestinian cause boldly.
In the match between France and Tunisia, , a fan did the same with the Palestinian flag.
A pitch invader runs while holding a Palestinian flag during the match against Tunisia and France. Source: AAP / EPA / Noushad Thekkayil
Media outlets have also reported that several fans at the World Cup have snubbed Israeli reporters attempting to secure interviews on the streets.
But the sentiments expressed by some Arab civilians do not accurately reflect the newfound warm relations between Arab and Israeli governments, Dr Iqtait said.
The most notable diplomatic reset occurred in 2020 after in an attempt to normalise ties with Israel.
Palestinian football fans with faces painted in the colours of the Palestinian and Moroccan flags watch the World Cup match between Portugal and Morocco in Gaza city on 10 December 2022. Source: Getty / NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Dr Iqtait said the clear contrast can be simply described as the Arab world suffering from a "democratic deficiency".
"There is a dichotomy between what senior political leadership sees as strategic priority objectives and what the Arab public sees as strategic priority for themselves," he said.
"We can easily pinpoint this dichotomy between what the political senior political leadership wants and what the streets want."
Morocco will now face France (on Thursday morning AEDT), the reigning champions of the last World Cup who have been a dangerous side throughout the tournament.
But it's unlikely the show of Palestinian solidarity will plummet even if Morocco bows out, Dr Iqtait said.
"I predict that this show of support will continue even if Moroccan leaves the World Cup. The fans will continue to show this love and support to the Palestinians," he said.
The on on Thursday 15 December from 5.30am AEDT.
