BETHLEHEM, West Bank (PNN) —
In Gaza, where war has damaged much of the infrastructure needed for everyday life, sports have also been pushed to the margins. Football academies have struggled to operate, sports facilities have been damaged, and athletes and coaches have been killed or displaced.
A new episode of PNN’s television programme “Ala Al-Makshouf” examined the state of sports in the Gaza Strip and the challenges facing athletes, coaches and sports academies, while exploring a broader question: what role can sports play in helping children rebuild confidence, reconnect with others and recover from the effects of war?
Presented by PNN journalist Sara Rizk, the episode featured reports produced by the PNN team in Gaza, alongside perspectives from Palestinian sports officials and specialists.
Football Academies Struggle to Survive
The programme’s first report examined the impact of the war on football academies across Gaza.
Sports facilities have been damaged, while players and coaches have been killed. Displacement has also disrupted regular sporting activities, leaving children with fewer safe spaces to train and limited access to equipment and qualified coaches.
Muammar Al-Muhtasib, head of the southern branch of the Palestinian Football Association, told the programme that more than 30 football academies operate in the Gaza Strip.
A significant portion of Gaza’s sports infrastructure has been damaged, he said, while the war has also made it difficult to complete and maintain databases documenting academies and emerging young talent.
Al-Muhtasib stressed the importance of organising the work of football academies and ensuring that they obtain the necessary licences, while providing equipment and qualified coaches.
But rebuilding sports in Gaza, he said, is not only about physical infrastructure. Children also need psychological support, and restoring the sports system will require cooperation between Palestinian institutions and international partners.
Swimming Offers Children a Path Back
The second focus of the programme was swimming, including an initiative in Gaza providing training for children who have lost limbs.
A report produced by the PNN team in Gaza followed children as they attempted to return to sport and rebuild their confidence, while also documenting the experience of a coach who returned to training children after being injured during the war.
The stories highlighted the role of sport in giving children an opportunity to regain a sense of confidence and connection at a time when many aspects of normal childhood have been disrupted.
In a phone interview, Fawaz Zaloum, head of the Palestinian Swimming and Aquatic Sports Federation, said sport has become part of the recovery process for children in Gaza and can help rebuild their confidence.
Most of Gaza’s swimming infrastructure has been lost, he said, creating an urgent need for safe and properly equipped swimming pools, specialised equipment and appropriate training programmes.
Zaloum also stressed the importance of supporting children with disabilities and enabling them to participate in sport at competitive levels and potentially represent Palestine.
For children in Gaza, he said, sport is not a luxury but an essential need because of its role in strengthening self-confidence and helping children reconnect with their communities.
Rebuilding More Than Sports Facilities
The episode concluded by examining what rebuilding Gaza’s sports sector could mean beyond repairing stadiums, swimming pools and training facilities.
The programme highlighted the need for sports infrastructure, equipment and specialised personnel to be included among the priorities of Gaza’s reconstruction efforts.
For children who have experienced displacement, loss and prolonged disruption to everyday life, access to sport can provide a safe space to interact with others, develop confidence and regain a sense of normality.
Through its field reports and interviews with sports officials, “Ala Al-Makshouf” presented sports as more than a recreational activity. The programme explored its potential role in recovery, social reintegration and rebuilding hope for a generation of children growing up amid unprecedented challenges.
Watch the full episode of “Ala Al-Makshouf” on PNN.
This video was produced with financial support from CFI, Expertise France and the European Union. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the beneficiary and does not necessarily reflect the views of CFI, Expertise France or the European Union.
PNN’s “Ala Al-Makshouf” Examines the Future of Sports in Gaza
Aggregated summary from an independent source. Read the original at PNN.