Palestinian children in Gaza practice karate in makeshift sandy training areas between tents after their sporting venues were destroyed during ongoing conflict.
In the midst of the Gaza Strip's displacement camps, Palestinian children continue their karate training in small sandy spaces between tents, following the destruction of sports halls and clubs during the Israeli offensive. This situation reflects their determination to maintain a sporting activity in a time of upheaval where their usual safe environments have been lost.
Since the onset of the war on October 8, 2023, and its potential continuation into 2025, the sports infrastructure in Gaza has been devastated. Palestinians have been forced to improvise, utilizing available resources; makeshift sandy grounds have replaced properly equipped training spaces, turning the areas between the tents into training grounds. Children engage in basic physical conditioning and self-defense exercises, directed by their coach, all while focusing on fitness and discipline without the usual sports equipment.
In November 2022, Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Football Association, stated that many sports fields and indoor facilities had been completely destroyed. This dire state of affairs highlights not just the immediate impact of the conflict on daily life in Gaza, but also underscores a broader cultural and social loss as the youth strive to continue their physical activities in makeshift environments amid destruction and displacement.
