In the morning hours on Wednesday 22 July 2009, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Mahmoud Kamel As-Sarsak, 22, who plays with the Palestinian national succor team.
IOF also prevented two of his teammates from leaving Gaza.
The two players were identified as Ibrahim Al 'Amour and Haytham Al-Shareef.
As-Sarsak is a player at Rafah Services Club and at the Palestinian national team.
He has just been contracted to play with Balata Sport Club in Nablus Governorate in the West Bank.
He was arrested while he was on his way to join his new Club.
According Al Mezan's investigations, the three players were on their way to join the same team.
The Palestinian Football Federation and Balata Sport Club had made all the required coordination with the IOF to facilitate their travel via Erez crossing; however, IOF arrested As-Sarsak and prevented the two other players from travelling.
They were interrogated for eight hours at the crossing.
According to Emad As-Sarsak, Mahmoud's brother, he received a phone call on Wednesday evening from an Israeli spokesperson who told him that his brother was detained at Ashkelon prison.
Al Mezan strongly condemns the arrest of As-Sarsak and the prevention of his teammates from leaving Gaza to join their new club by the IOF.
Al Mezan asserts that this step is only part of the unlawful siege and blockade the IOF impose on the Gaza Strip in violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
  Al Mezan reiterates its calls upon the international community to act in harmony with their legal and moral responsibilities towards Palestinian civilians in oPt by taking prompt actions to provide international protection for Palestinian civilians and releasing Palestinian political prisoners held in the Israeli prisons.
  Al Mezan calls the FIFA to take the necessary measures to ensure the release of As-Sarsak and ensure that the violations of human rights targeted the Palestinian athletes are brought to an end.
The IOF measures represent obstacles that undermine the development of Palestinian athletics to its normal potential.
Al Mezan calls the relevant international sports unions to condemn the Israeli discriminatory measures against Palestinian athletes, including by taking appropriate boycott  and divestment measures against Israel until it showed due respect for international law and human rights.
  Ends