VANCOUVER, April 30 (Reuters) – Palestinian soccer federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with Israel FA Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman in a heated moment at the FIFA Congress on Thursday.
Both men were called to the stand by FIFA President Gianni Infantino but Rajoub declined to shake hands with Arab-Israeli Suliman.
Asked what Rajoub said when he refused to shake hands, Palestinian FA Vice-President Susan Shalabi, who was in the room, told Reuters: “I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide! We are suffering.”
Israel has denied committing genocide in Gaza.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)