Ons Jabeur bullied, called ‘terrorist’ over supporting aid efforts in Gaza

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur said she has faced abuse and bullying as a result of speaking out about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, adding that she had been called a "terrorist".

Jabeur, who has been a UN World Food Programme ambassador since last year, has been using her social media platforms to speak about Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and the impact the war is having on civilians.

The three-time Grand Slam finalist told the Hologic WTA Tennis website that she thinks about Palestine "24/7", and that she is often reduced to tears during her meetings with the WFP, when learning about the challenges civilians face in Gaza.

She added that the destruction, killings and starvation in the enclave have "really affected me emotionally".

The comments come after the WFP last month announced they had run out of food stocks in Gaza as a result of Israel’s ongoing siege on the Strip, which has prevented the entry of all food, fuel, medicine and shelter equipment to the devastated enclave.

"One of the guys [in Palestine] was asking, 'Are we human?’ To even ask that question means you are living in hell," she said in a recent interview.

"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," she continued.

She added that she has "been called a terrorist, so many times," explaining, "I don’t know how that’s even related".

After she spoke out against Israel's brutal war on Gaza in 2023,  the Israeli Tennis Federation filed a complaint against her, accusing her of "supporting a terrorist organization."

Despite the backlash she has received, she maintains that she will continue trying to help people, particularly starving children.

The 30-year-old said in January that "what’s happening in the world, it affected me more than I had expected".

She has been one of the few sports players to speak out about the situation in Gaza.

"The important thing to speak out is to try to find peace somehow, to raise my voice, to use my platform, but also to help the kids, the families. They’re suffering every day," she told reporters earlier this year.

Online, many social media users have voiced their support for Jabeur.

"Only tennis player I know talking about Gaza. When it was Ukraine, many showed solidarity with Ukrainians. Players like Naomi Osaka and Andrey Rublev openly showed their support for Ukraine. Now all of them are quiet. Why?" one person commented on X.

"We stand with you, Ons. Let the haters hate — their noise means nothing. You are a voice for peace, and your integrity speaks louder than their aggression. Don’t waste your energy on warmongers or those who justify violence and crimes. Stay strong and true to who you are," another commented.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed over 52,000 people and its siege of the territory has created famine-like conditions, with thousands of children suffering from malnutrition and at risk of long term health issues.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Thursday that a lack of fuel had forced three-quarters of its emergency vehicles to stop operating, more than two months into a total Israeli siege preventing the entry of all aid.