MENA Sports Wrap: Gaza's sports community is being eradicated

Palestinians this week commemorated one year since the brutal war on Gaza began, severely hitting the sports community.

The Israeli offensive has claimed the lives of numerous coaches, referees, and athletes, including children, in a ruthless bombing campaign of the besieged enclave that has cost the lives of at least 42,000 Palestinians.

The Palestinian Olympic Committee estimates that 400 Palestinian athletes have been killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza, while training grounds and sports infrastructure have been destroyed.

This week, we explore the sports scene in Gaza and spotlight the powerful acts of solidarity from notable figures in the world of sports who have stood up in support of Palestinians.

Dozens of athletes killed in Gaza war

Among those killed in the war on Gaza have been dozens of Palestinian athletes, including Khan Yunis Youth Club player and one of the most prominent goalkeepers in the Strip, Shadi Abu Al-Araj, who was killed in the Al-Mawasi massacre which took the lives of over 90 Palestinians.

Abu Al-Arraj's death came after the club's former technical director, Taha Kallab, and team captain Muhammad Barakat, were both killed in separate Israeli attacks.

In November, Palestinian volleyball players Hassan Zuaiter and Ibrahim Qassi'a were killed in a bombing of the Jabalia refugee camp.

Many under-16s from the Al-Wahda Sports Academy in Deir al-Balah - were also killed in Israeli bombing, including three young footballers in April.

In June, three footballers from Al-Ahli Gaza - Ahmad Abu al-Atta, Anas Iqilan, and Muhammad Barakat - were killed. Barakat, the team captain, was affectionately referred to as "The Legend of Khan Younis" due to his years of dedication to the city's youth team.

Hani Mesmeh, a FIFA international referee from Palestine, was killed during airstrikes in June.

Palestine's first-ever Olympian died from lack of treatment

Palestine's inaugural Olympic runner, Majed Abu Maraheel, died in June from kidney failure, which was exacerbated by power outages due to the ongoing Israeli siege and bombings.

Majed Abu Maraheel was a trailblazer in Palestinian athletics, representing Palestinians on several international sporting stages. In 1995, he competed in the Arab Athletics Championships. 

The following year, he represented Palestine at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, becoming the country's first Olympian and Olympic flag-bearer.

He competed in the men's 10,000 metres race, ultimately being eliminated after placing 21st in his qualification group.

He retired from athletics after completing his university education, later serving as an athletics coach to multiple runners in the Palestinian national athletics team, such as Olympians Nader al-Masri, Bahaa al-Farra, and Woroud Sawalha.

The sports figures who spoke out for Gaza

Formula One, tennis, football, basketball, and other sports stars voiced their support for Palestinians during the one year anniversary of the start of Israel's onslaught on Gaza this week.

Despite restrictions set by their governing bodies on making political statements, many took to social media to urge for an end to the brutal Israeli military offensive on the besieged enclave

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton made a call on X saying: "Enough is enough", and urged an end to the "horrifying" war on "children and their families".

Kyrie Irving, an eight-time NBA All-Star, showed his solidarity by wearing a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh during a post-match news conference in a powerful gesture of support toward Palestinians.

In football, two legends of the game Eric Cantona and Karim Benzema used their platforms to criticise the attacks on Gaza. Cantona questioned global support for crimes against humanity, while Benzema called for prayers for the victims of the violence in Gaza.

In tennis, US Open champion, Coco Gauff, highlighted the importance of public awareness on the war, urging people to educate themselves and demand change from their leaders.

Tunisian tennis star, Ons Jabeur, pledged a portion of her prize money from the Tennis Women's Association to support Palestinians in Gaza.

"It's very tough seeing children and babies dying every day. It's heartbreaking, so I have decided to donate part of my prize money to help the Palestinians," she said at the time.

Similarly, Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah also donated an undisclosed sum to support aid efforts in Gaza.

The Liverpool star called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the enclave and urged world leaders to put an end to the fighting.

Moroccan national football team members, including Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui, publicly supported Palestine through their social media platforms, offering prayers and raising awareness.

The renowned UFC fighters, Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev, also voiced their support for Gaza by sharing pro-Palestine messages and images on social media.

Meanwhile, FIFA, football's governing body, had announced earlier this month that they would "investigate further" the future of Israel's participation in international football following a year-long call for the body to ban it.