Over 500 participants from Europe and Palestine joined yesterday thousands of Palestinians running the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem. This is the third time for a European team to participate in the Marathon, showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and demonstrating active support for Palestinians’ basic human rights, including the right to movement in their own country.

Europeans from different EU Members States and institutions, together with Palestinian colleagues and partners from across the West Bank, joined forces to be part of one team and run for Palestine.

As the world is facing Russia’s threat to the rules-based international order and peace, it becomes paramount to remind ourselves of the importance of protecting and promoting universal human rights. This commitment remains at the core of the EU’s values and constitutes a fundamental element in the EU’s relations with the Palestinian people and partners across the globe.

“Marathons are organised in different cities around the world. Whether to have a good time with friends and family, challenge your athletic capabilities, or defend a higher cause, marathons send a strong message of being part of a community cherishing effort, commitment, and solidarity with others. What is more, today thousands of Palestinian and international runners have come to Bethlehem to bring attention to one of the basic human rights for all Palestinians - a right that faces numerous restrictions and is under constant threat in the occupied Palestinian territory: the freedom of movement. Team Europe is proud of running for Palestine and in support of the respect of the inalienable human rights of the Palestinian people“, said the European Union Representative, Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff.

#EU4Palestine

Contacts:

The Office of the European Union Representative 

Shadi Othman (02 5415 867, 0599 673 958); Inas Abu Shirbi (02 541 5 859, 0599 673 957)

https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/palestine