Palestinians playing football in Gaza
Palestinian football league resumes, honors slain athletes
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- The Palestinian Football Association will resume competitions on Sept. 4 after nearly three years of suspension.
- More than 560 football players, coaches, and staff have been killed in Gaza, while over 265 sports facilities have been destroyed.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) announced the official resumption of sports competitions beginning Sept. 4, ending a nearly three-year suspension enforced by 'Israel’s' genocidal war across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah, PFA President Jibril Rajoub announced that the inaugural comeback tournament will be named the “Thousand Martyrs’ Cup” in honor of 1,014 Palestinian athletes, coaches, and sports officials killed by 'Israeli' forces since October 2023.
A total of 226 clubs will compete simultaneously in the tournament across three regional hubs: 146 from the occupied West Bank, 44 from the Gaza Strip, and 36 from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
"The Israeli war created extremely difficult conditions for all Palestinians that forced the suspension of our competitions," Rajoub stated. "But we have not lost our Palestinian national will, nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life."
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Reclaiming the Game in Gaza
The nationwide league revival comes as Palestinians in Gaza attempt to rebuild grass-roots sports directly on top of destroyed infrastructure.
In Gaza, major facilities like Yarmouk Stadium lie in ruins after being leveled by 'Israeli' forces and turned into tent camps for displaced families.
In the Jabalia refugee camp, PFA organizers recently cleared piles of concrete rubble, laid down worn artificial turf, and erected a fence alongside bombed-out residential structures to create an improvised field.
On this ground, Palestinian amputee players, who lost limbs to 'Israeli' airstrikes, have resumed training, and local clubs Gaza Sports Club and Al-Ahly Club recently faced off in a local match.
The loss of life among Gaza's sports community has been staggering. Over 560 football players, coaches, and staff are among the dead, including legendary national team star Suleiman al-Obaid, killed while waiting for humanitarian aid, and Olympic coach Hani al-Masry.
More than 265 athletic facilities across Gaza have been reduced to rubble by 'Israeli' bombardments.
