(Anadolu photo)
STUTTGART, Germany – Football fans in Germany were given caps embroidered with images of watermelons as a symbol of solidarity with Palestine before several UEFA EURO 2024 group matches this week.
The solidarity caps were distributed before the Spain vs. Italy match on June 20 in Gelsenkirchen, Türkiye vs. Portugal game on June 22 in Dortmund, and Scotland vs. Hungary match on Sunday in Stuttgart as watermelons echo the colors of the Palestinian flag.
"We want to make our voice heard here about the (Israeli) oppression committed against our Palestinian brothers," one of the sponsors of the voluntary event in Germany, Mehmet Simsek, told Anadolu earlier this week in Gelsenkirchen.
Simsek said Muslims should be concerned about it and "do something" in protest.
"It is impossible to turn a blind eye to this genocide (against Palestinians). The people who commit this genocide (in Gaza), have faced genocide in the past. Now they (Israel) are committing it."
However, he said the German police prevented the volunteers from giving the fans some of the solidarity caps in Gelsenkirchen.
"Nearly 50,000 caps were produced. We wanted to hand out these caps here, but it was not allowed by police," Simsek added.
The same non-governmental group distributed the solidarity caps to fans at the BVB Stadion Dortmund before the Türkiye vs. Portugal match on Saturday.
Turkish businessmen in Germany made 50,000 watermelon logo caps to raise awareness of the ongoing attacks.
Volunteers carried out the same activity before Sunday's match between Scotland and Hungary at Stuttgart Arena.
The watermelon caps were given to both Scottish and Hungarian football fans in Stuttgart to raise awareness.
More than eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine. (Anadolu)
