The smoke of Operation Pillar of Defense has barely cleared and Hamas leaders are already receiving assurances of funding to help rebuilt Gaza following Israel’s counterterrorism offensive.

When it comes to funding Israel’s enemies, for some there is no issue of rocket fire into civilian communities, misuse and abuse of donor nation funds, widespread corruption, a total lack of transparency or even an effort at seeking guarantees to halt rocket fire. This is the case as far a FIFA Security General Jerome Vakcke is concerned; already announcing his commitment to rebuilt the Gaza City stadium that sustained heavy damage by the Israel Air Force during that operation.

Quoted on his organization’s website, he says “We will also rebuild the stadium in Gaza, which has been destroyed.”

He elaborates, stating soccer “brings people together” and as such, his organization will rebuild the stadium. This despite the fact Israel reported the stadium was targeted in air force sorties because it was being used as a launching pad for rocket attacks into southern Israel, but this seems to irrelevant for FIFA.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)