World No.7 Tennis star Ons Jabeur declared on Wednesday her intention to donate a portion of her GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun prize money to Gaza aid, after defeating Marketa Vondrousova in her first win of the week at the season-ending championships.

Before breaking down in tears, she said: "I am very happy with the win, but I haven't been happy lately, to be honest with you. The situation in the world doesn't make me happy".

"It's very tough seeing children, babies dying every day. It's heartbreaking. So I've decided to donate part of my prize money to help the Palestinians. I cannot be happy with just this win, with what is happening. I'm sorry guys, [I know] it's supposed to be about tennis, but it's very frustrating looking at videos every day... I'm sorry, it's not a political message. It's just humanity. I want peace in this world and that's it." 

Ons Jabeur says she’s donating a portion of her prize money to Palestine:

“I am very happy with the win but I haven't been very happy lately. The situation in the world doesn't make me happy... I feel like… I am sorry. It’s very tough seeing children & babies dying every day.… pic.twitter.com/fVBz9McSjU

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 2, 2023

During her press conference, Jabeur spoke of the challenges of dedicating her attention solely to tennis. 

"I try to stay off social media as much as I can, but it's very tough," she expressed, adding: "You go through videos, photos, they're horrible, horrible photos every day. It doesn't help me sleep or recover very well and the worst thing is I feel hopeless. I feel like I cannot do anything. I wish I can have a magic hand and just end all this and just peace for everybody."

Read next: More children killed in Gaza since Oct 7 than killed yearly since 2019

In a separate yet related context, Jabeur is scheduled to take on World No.2 Iga Swiatek in the final match of play on Friday. 

Sports federations and their true colors

This is not the first event of a sports star speaking up in solidarity with Occupied Palestine. 

Last week, French senator Valérie Boyer, and a member of Les Republicains, has called for international football player Karim Benzema’s French nationality, as well as his Ballon d’Or, to be taken from him after he stood in solidarity with Gaza and paid tribute to the victims. 

A French official has attacked Karim #Benzema for his support for #Palestine.

Valérie Boyer, a French senator and a member of Les Republicains, has called for Benzema’s French nationality, as well as his Ballon d’Or, to be taken from him.

On Sunday, the professional… pic.twitter.com/y7WqjEFylK

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 18, 2023

On October 16, Egyptian swimmer Abdelrahman Sameh refused to celebrate his victory after winning a gold medal, amid receiving death threats and being canceled by The International Swimming Federation, and all for his support for Palestine.

This #Egyptian swimmer is getting canceled by The International Swimming Federation despite his winning a gold medal because of his support for Palestine.

Abdelrahman Sameh refused to celebrate his winning of the medal as he stated during his victory speech that he had been… pic.twitter.com/vqcb0RWXxc

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 16, 2023