Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has opened up about the accusations she has received as she continues to support Gaza. The 30-year-old tennis star is well known for her contributions to Gaza as a goodwill ambassador of the UN World Food Programme. Jabeur has maintained this position since February 2024. However, her support has resulted in consequences from the wider world as she is labelled a ‘terrorist’.
Jabeur has kept herself updated with everything going on in Gaza. At the same time, she is competing at the Italian Open and is scheduled to play Jasmine Paolini in the Round of 32. She got a walkover in her opening round as Petra Kvitova withdrew from the tournament.
What has Ons Jabeur Said?
According to the reports from WTA tennis, Jabeur said, “They’re doing an amazing job [UN World Food Programme]… They’re trying to push and push, but unfortunately, when you close the border and try to starve kids and a lot of other people to death, that’s very inhuman. We are in 2025, and I can’t believe this is happening.”
“One of the guys [in Palestine] was asking, ‘Are we human?’ To even ask that question means you are living in hell. I know the WFP are pushing to get food there even though a lot of workers got killed. They’re doing voluntary work. It’s a terrible world right now, and I don’t know how people are thinking. It’s really affected me emotionally. I’ve been called a terrorist so many times. I don’t know how that’s even related. I’m trying to help people, and especially kids, who are starving. This can’t be considered normal.”
Final Thoughts
Ons Jabeur has attracted a lot of attention in the past 12 months. She has played three Grand Slam finals and can challenge the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. However, she has prioritized the difficult off-field situations in Gaza. The developments there seem to have harmed her game. However, the tennis fans want to see her perform well on the courts, and the Italian Open provides her with a great chance.
