QABATIYA, Jenin (Ma'an) -- The Jenin town of Qabatiya hosted a football match on Sunday between local PA officials and internationals from diplomatic missions and NGOs in the West Bank.

Qabatiya municipality hosted the friendly game which saw diplomats, NGO workers, and journalists pitted against a local team which included the governor of Jenin, Qaddura Musa, and deputy governor Kamal Abu al-Rub.

The game took place in the World Vision Stadium, located outside of Qabatiya in the Jenin countryside.

"This initiative means a lot to us," Jenin Governor Qaddura Musa told reporters.

"In the past, the occupation has prevented villagers and people of the region from using these facilities under the pretext of security."

"I hope we can all meet again soon after the occupation has ended, and celebrate together in Jerusalem with the Palestinian flag flying high," he added.

Mayor of Qabatiya Walid Nazzal welcomed the group of 14 internationals, thanking them and their governments for their solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The game was jointly organized by Alan Bugeja from the representative office of Malta and Kamal Abu al-Rub, who is also an official in the Palestinian Football Federation.

"The game showed solidarity between internationals and Palestinians," Bugeja said.

"It represents building bridges between different communities and introducing internationals to the northern West Bank, which many have never visited before."

International participants included Hungarian and Cypriot diplomatic missions, UN workers, NGO staff and journalists.

The group also toured a local Christian site in the nearby village of Burqin before the game, which ended 12-7 to the internationals.