In June 2023, Israeli media reported on the national under-20 football team as if covering a phenomenon of science fiction rather than sport. Israel, a nation whose senior squad has qualified for the World Cup only once, had defeated global giants Brazil in the quarter-finals. The victory swept the country into a collective euphoria; the subsequent semi-final against Uruguay became the most-watched television program of the evening, capturing a 23% market share. Politicians rushed to congratulate the squad, and the public fell deeply in love with the young athletes.
What made this cohort special was not merely their talent, but their representation of a diverse Israel. Anan Khalaili, an Israeli Arab who scored a stoppage-time winner against Uzbekistan, addressed Israeli viewers in Hebrew using the phrase ‘Am Yisrael’ (People of Israel), a term deeply rooted in Jewish heritage. Commentators noted that such a gesture by a Muslim player symbolized a powerful vision of shared identity and co-existence.
However, this window of optimism closed abruptly four months later. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched attacks that killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel responded with a massive military offensive in Gaza, resulting in what the United Nations estimates as over 70,000 Palestinian deaths. The war has since transformed the social landscape, leaving many to wonder if the unifying potential of this ‘golden generation’ can be realized amidst ongoing conflict.
The 2023 squad, which finished third at the Under-20 World Cup after a 1-0 defeat to champions Uruguay, was built on a foundation of successful age-grade football. They had previously reached the final of the 2022 Under-19 European Championship and the semi-finals of the 2023 Under-20 Euros. Unlike previous eras defined by isolated stars such as Eyal Berkovic or Yossi Benayoun, this group offered unprecedented depth. Talents like Oscar Gloukh at Ajax, Roy Revivo at Elche, and Dia Saba have since established themselves at top European clubs.
Coach Ofir Haim cultivated this cohesion by dismissing religious and cultural differences within the squad. He noted that while some players wore tefillin, others performed Muslim prayers, and that he wished the entire country could mirror the team’s unity. This approach echoed historical patterns in Israeli football, where the sport served as a common language between European Jewish immigrants and Middle Eastern communities during the British Mandate period.
Despite this progress, racism against Arab players has intensified since the onset of the war. Matan Segal, former director of Kick It Out Israel, observed that anti-Arab sentiment had been escalating due to online radicalization during the pandemic and the rise of the far-right government. The conflict further legitimized extreme views, leading to more virulent abuse at stadiums, including chants calling for violence against Arabs and referencing the devastation in Gaza.
The pressure on players is compounded by their personal connections to the conflict. Playmaker Oscar Gloukh faced online harassment after posting tributes to his childhood friend Afik Tery, who was killed while serving in the IDF. Meanwhile, Dia Saba’s career in Israel ended after his wife posted an Instagram message highlighting the presence of children in Gaza. Saba later stated that forces beyond his control prevented him from continuing at Maccabi Haifa.
Other players have faced similar dilemmas. Ataa Jaber, who captained the U-21 side, switched his allegiance to Palestine in 2023, citing an inability to separate sport from politics after witnessing the eviction of Palestinian families. His decision damaged his European prospects and triggered calls for the revocation of his Israeli citizenship.
Yet, some figures continue to advocate for football as a bridge. Former international Beram Kayal emphasizes the coexistence of Jewish and Muslim practices within the team, recalling how he and teammate Tomer Hemed prayed differently yet remained brothers on and off the pitch. As Kayal noted, on the field, religion and culture are secondary to the desire to win together, though the off-field realities of war have made that ideal increasingly difficult to sustain.
Did anyone else notice how quickly the tone shifted from celebration to tragedy? It is devastating to see sports uniting then shattering so fast.
The image of Khalaili’s goal still haunts me. That moment felt like proof coexistence was possible, now it feels like a painful memory.