Israel has postponed the demolition of a Palestinian children's football club in the city of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank.
It said the Aida Youth Centre's pitch was constructed without the necessary permits. It claimed the demolition was necessary for security reasons.
An international campaign to save it, including a petition with more than half a million signatures, appears to have forced the authorities to reconsider. The club, however, said it had not yet received any official notification.
The Aida Youth Centre's pitch sits next to the barrier separating the occupied West Bank from Israel. While it may not rank high among the world's iconic sporting venues, this children's football club has found itself at the centre of a hard-fought international campaign for its survival.
In November last year, children training at the pitch found a notice declaring it illegal. This was followed by a demolition order issued at the end of December.
Despite the asymmetrical odds, the campaign appears to have worked for now. The club has won a reprieve against the threat of demolition, which the Israeli military claimed was due to the pitch's proximity to the security barrier. Community members, including young players, expressed their anguish over the potential loss of their only place to play.
While the immediate threat has been delayed, the club's officials fear that it may resurface when the situation is less visible. They plan to continue their campaign to secure their field permanently, emphasizing the importance of this pitch to the community and its young athletes.
