Lebanese 8-year-old chess player Loren Abdel Samad withdrew from two scheduled matches against 'Israeli' opponents during the World Youth Chess Championship for the under-eight age category, held in Batumi, Georgia, from June 14-27, 2026 – according to a report on Lebanese media The withdrawals resulted in automatic losses and cost her points that could have influenced her final standing in the tournament, the reports said. Family cites personal stance According to her family speaking to Lebanese media, Abdel Samad chose not to face the 'Israeli' players despite knowing the decision would affect her tournament score. Her father, Bassam Abdel Samad, told local media that his daughter "withdrew from the games against two Israeli players intentionally." He added that she closely follows the news and has seen "the destruction of homes and the targeting of children." "Even if Lebanese law allowed her to play against the Israeli players, she would not have done so," he said, adding that she holds a firm personal position despite her young age. Rising young talent Before competing at the World Youth Chess Championship, Abdel Samad had already built an impressive record in Lebanon. She won first place in the Lebanese American University (LAU) Chess Championship and claimed the Lebanese Chess Federation title in her age category. After returning to Beirut, the young player is preparing to compete in the 2026 Lebanese Chess Championship.
They will also remain blissfully unaware of the comment above. That doesn’t make it acceptable.
Did you interpret the comment as aimed at the children, rather than the state of Israel?
Maybe the original commenter does consider a couple of 8 year olds to be evil, I can’t speak on their behalf; but it seems far more likely they’re referring to the genocidal state currently killing 8 year olds that they represent, rather than specific individuals playing chess.
Look at the other responses and tell me I’m wrong that that’s how it’s being interpreted. I donagree they are conflating the two. That has been Israels plan, conflate israels across with the identity of Jewishness, and then claim antisemitism when there is any criticism.
Unfortunately, that means people are now conflating the two. In this case, to call children in a chess tournament evil. That’s where Israels actions serve to increase antisemitism. Globally.
Did you think they were referring to a Palestinian child from occupied territory? Of course not. The fact they are called israeli serves to suggest their religion and political views, before they even have a formed view.
Those are responses to your comment though. Your comment frames the narrative as ‘this is about the children’, and as such, the resulting discourse is based around that, my responses included, despite my differing interpretation of the original statement.
When I mention the state they represent, I mean it in the same way an athlete represents their nation. I don’t believe said athlete is directly responsible for their countries actions, but I also agree with their expulsion from international events when they represent a state that is actively committing atrocities (like Russia with the Olympics for example). The alternative is sane washing the atrocities commited (IE: Israel participating in Eurovision).
I completely agree re athletes. Not children.
A child cannot differentiate. So the child cannot recognise anything but their opponent and what they have been taught. On both sides.
Which is why their comment only makes sense in terms of calling their opponent evil. And that’s not what a child said. That was a, presumably, adult poster.
This is exactly the kind of commentary that leads to genocide. Calling Israeli children soldiers in waiting is no different to the IDF calling Palestinian children terrorists in waiting. It’s all a way to other them and justify imhumane actions.
You’re just a liberal equating “both sides”. Like they always do. In real life, the Israeli kid already received an education that dehumanizes Lebanese, Palestinians, Syrians, you name it. While the other kid just wants to live and there’s nothing indicating his nurturing was dehumanizing Israelis, except your half-baked and dishonest “both-sidizing” and Hasbara. Noboby is disputing that the Israeli kid didn’t have a choice in that matter but that doesn’t mean he has to get a pass from being throughout reeducated. Until then, the evil moniker is an oversimplification that alas aptly applies here. Do you want to get off by being 100% fair? STOP THE GENOCIDE.