Photos: First-ever amputee football league kicks off in Gaza Strip

Editor’s note: Rizek Abdel Jawad, a photojournalist from Gaza City whose work was previously featured in these pages, has contributed this photo essay documenting hope in the shadow of Israel’s genocidal assault on the besieged territory.

The first amputee football tournament in the Gaza Strip, dubbed the “Championship of Hope,” is underway, aiming to revive sports activity and boost morale among those injured in successive Israeli wars on the Strip.

The tournament is organized by the Palestine Amputee Football Association.

The organizers of the tournament stated that holding the event sends a powerful message to the world that the Palestinian people are capable of rising again after wars and destruction, and that they “love life and peace and reject violence and war.”

They explained that the tournament will last for a full month, with the participation of dozens of amputee athletes, including those who lost limbs during the current war and previous conflicts.

The matches are being held on a five-a-side artificial turf pitch in Deir al-Balah. Approximately 50 adult players and about 15 boys and girls, all of whom have suffered amputations, are participating in the tournament.

The players are showing great enthusiasm and engagement during the matches despite the circumstances.

The tournament aims not only for athletic competition but also to create an environment where the players feel they are part of a supportive sporting system, even amidst difficult humanitarian conditions. The organizers emphasize that the tournament represents the beginning of a revival of sports for amputees in Gaza.

Rizek Abdel Jawad is a photojournalist based in Gaza City. To see more of his work, follow him on Instagram and Facebook. He is part of the Connecting Gaza initiative, which helps families in Gaza survive. You can support them by going to www.connectinggaza.org/donate.