Calls for removal: Israeli-Arab soccer announcer under fire for Hamas praise 

Israeli soccer officials have strongly condemned remarks made by Saeed Hassanain, the announcer for Bnei Sakhnin F.C.’s home games, following an inflammatory interview he gave to Al-Aqsa TV, a Hamas-affiliated channel banned in Israel. Hassanain, who also broadcasts on the Israeli-Arab radio station A-Nas, made controversial statements attacking Israel, the IDF, and even recently released hostages.

Regarding Omri Shem Tov, a hostage freed on Saturday who was forced to kiss the forehead of a Hamas operative during his "release ceremony," Hassanain claimed, "He did it willingly because he respects and appreciates what the person holding him did and the dignity with which he was treated."

He further asserted that female hostages were treated "with respect according to Islamic law and were not harmed," arguing that this demonstrated "who is barbaric and who is humane, who acts according to religious and Islamic teachings."

Hassanain also lashed out at Arab Israelis who enlist in the IDF, calling them "weak-minded" and claiming Hamas sought to send a message that they should not join the "enemy army, the army of occupation." He urged those considering enlistment to "think a million times before selling their conscience, morals, and religion for this immoral path."

In response, the Israeli Professional Football League issued a strongly worded letter to Bnei Sakhnin, signed by chairman Erez Kalfon. "We were shocked by the outrageous, false, and unacceptable statements made by Mr. Saeed Hassanain, who holds an official position within Bnei Sakhnin, as presented in his interview with Al-Aqsa TV—the television channel of the despicable terrorist organization Hamas," the letter stated. "These statements are, to say the least, unacceptable in Israeli society, and certainly in Israeli soccer."