Palestine's modern history is full of
tragedies. However, the Gaza genocide was no less tragic than the Nakba (the
1948 catastrophe) in its horrific nature. As a result of Israel's genocidal war on
Gaza, not one house, building, or playground was left untouched, and no living
being was spared; if they were not killed, they were maimed, disfigured, and
exhausted in some way. Israel intends to subject even Gaza Strip residents who
remain alive or injured to the dreaded fate of dying alive. This is achieved by
torturing them and inflicting them with inhumane conditions, such as hunger,
cold, homelessness, disease, pollution, and emotional collapse.
The genocide has slowed the future's
progress and dashed the hopes and ambitions of many young people. A number of
Palestinian athletes have either been killed, injured, or even prohibited from
traveling abroad to seek medical treatment or participate in sports
competitions due to the fact that the only way for Palestinians to travel
abroad is through the Rafah crossing.
The following are two interviews with
athletes conducted by Palestinian sports journalist Nelly Al-Masri, based in
Gaza City. In light of harsh conditions and the lack of an internet connection
and difficulty with communications, the writer had difficulty arranging
meetings and conducting these interviews.
The
Shrapnel that Blinded Samih Saud Fueled his Dreams
By Nelly
Al-Masri
During the genocide and the closure of
the Rafah border crossing, Palestinian boxing champion Samih Saud (18) found a way
to continue his boxing training after he became unable to represent Palestine
internationally. His goal was to participate in the Kazakhstan International
Boxing Championship that was going to take place in the near future.
Later, as a
result of an Israeli strike in late 2025, he lost the sight of one of his eyes.
In the aftermath of this injury, he was haunted by the fear that he might lose
his other eye as well. A sport he loved and had practiced since he was twelve years old,
boxing, was one of the things he dreamed to practice.
"I,
along with my family of nine, have been displaced from the Al-Bureij refugee
camp since the outbreak of the war began on October 7, 2023. As a result of
continuous bombing, we were forced to flee from the Al-Bureij refugee camp to a
school in Nuseirat camp, which was transformed into a shelter for displaced
people. In that moment, the chapters of my most tragic tragedy were written. As
a result of the Israeli forces bombing the school we had taken refuge in with
several missiles, pieces of shrapnel were scattered everywhere, resulting in
one hitting my eye. From that moment forward, I began to lose sight of my
injured eye."
As a result of a lack of medical equipment
and supplies during the extermination war, Samih was not able to receive the
necessary treatment.
“The doctor told me that after I was injured, I had been
taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the doctors told me that shrapnel had
lodged itself in my eye, and that medical intervention would be limited to stop
the bleeding only, without removing the shrapnel. I was transferred to the
European Gaza Hospital, where I had surgery to stop the bleeding, which
resulted in a sharp decline in my vision of about 20%," said Samih.
In addition, he confirmed that the injury
had a direct effect on his physical fitness and athletic future. Prior to the
war, he used to train for up to 25 rounds without getting tired or bored as he
recalled his days before the war. However, today he is determined to complete
two to five rounds. It is possible that he may lose his sight completely if he
does more. It's because of the strain on his other eye.
Saud had been referred to a medical center
abroad for treatment. This offered him a glimmer of hope for recovery and
return to his favorite sport. As a result, he was not able to realize his
dreams because he was only able to leave the Gaza Strip through the Rafah
crossing which became under Israel’s control in May 2024.
Saud is still suffering from difficult
psychological conditions as a result of his injury. Some of his daily tasks can
no longer be performed or even his favorite sport can no longer be practiced.
As he feels tired and is no longer able to complete boxing rounds as he once
did, he thinks he will no longer be able to compete in boxing as he used to do.
It was not only the loss of his eye that he
mourned, but also the loss of his uncle and coach, Amer Saud, who was killed
during the genocide. As his friend and coach, Amer was a supporter,
cheerleader, and mentor to him, both in sports as well as in his overall life.
It is estimated that more than 900 athletes
from different sports have been martyred as a result of the genocide in the
past two and a half years, according to the Palestinian Olympic Committee (POC)
and the Palestinian Football Association (PFA). The genocide killed hundreds of
sports leaders, administrators, and members of the Palestinian sports
community. There were also thousands of male and female athletes who sustained
injuries due to the genocide. There were 270 sports facilities targeted by the
occupation, with 95% destroyed. As of now, an assessment of the stadium damage
is still being conducted by the Palestine Olympic Committee.
While Saud had suffered from a serious
injury, he remained committed to continuing his training, regardless of the
fact that he had limited physical abilities and there were no sports facilities
available, such as clubs, gyms, and stadiums, to facilitate his training.
He began his
training by hanging a bag of fine sand from the ceiling of his tent as a
punching bag to use as a punching bag whilst he trained in his tent.
In the Nuseirat refugee camp, he decided to
walk to a bodybuilding gym that was not specifically for boxing, but serves the
purposes of boxing as well. As of right now, he is training at a new club in
Al-Zawaida, in the central Gaza Strip, which has just opened its doors.
In order to
regain his sight, Saud hopes to travel for treatment abroad. In the near
future, he plans to complete his university education, as well as continue
boxing and represent Palestine in international competitions.
Before October 7,
2023, Saud began his journey toward stardom and professionalism by attaining
numerous local accomplishments in the 54kg and 57kg weight categories before he
started his journey toward stardom and professionalism. As a boxer, he was
ranked among the most prominent boxers in the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian
Boxing Federation. He participated in an Asian championship in Jordan, winning
third place. Due to this achievement, he was eligible to compete in the
International Kazakhstan Championship, but due to the genocide, he was unable
to do so.
The
Joy of Victory and the Bitterness of Exile and Genocide
By Nelly
Al-Masri
"Although
the world is full of suffering, it is also full of
the overcoming of it." These were the words of Helen Keller, an
American author and activist who urged people not to give up in the face of
hardships. In particular, this can be described as the case of the Palestinian
champion, an international ultramarathon runner Sami Asaad Al-Nattil. He is the
first ultramarathon runner who has completed a distance of 110 kilometers in
Palestinian history.
Al-Nattil's story
begins shortly before the genocidal war on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023,
just two weeks after he left the Gaza Strip. He ran the 84 km Rum International
Ultramarathon. It was a great achievement for him to finish third, but the war
quickly overshadowed the happiness he felt at this accomplishment.
"I won third place in the Rum
International Ultramarathon and I am pleased with this achievement, which is
considered a significant achievement for Palestine. Then, after the marathon, I
started preparing for the Amman International Marathon, and only a few days
after that, the Gaza war began," Al-Nattil said.
In his words, "I could
not have imagined how brutal the bombing and war were on Gaza. It was truly genocide,
a period that was one of the hardest times in my life. I was constantly in
contact with my family, my wife, and my children, but I feared for them. There
was no way I was going to be able to return to Gaza. There was a constant sense
of anxiety and worry that affected my mental health and made me feel unwell. It
was impossible for me to return to Gaza during the year and a half I spent in
Jordan."
Al-Nattil is thought to be
the first ultramarathon runner in Palestine to complete a 110 km race. An
ultramarathon is a marathon run that is longer than the traditional marathon
(42.195 km), and the distances generally range between 50 km and much longer
distances, such as 100 km and even 160 km and more. The terrain is diverse and
challenging, and can include deserts and mountains, all of which require
exceptional physical fitness and endurance. Runners consider this event to be
one of the best tests of their abilities.
In spite of the genocide, his
separation from his family, and the constant worry he had about them, he did
not let any of that deter him from continuing his journey. There were a lot of
challenges involved in this. As part of his training, he continued to practice
for upcoming championships, and he was fortunate to have a coach from abroad
who supervised and supported him without charging him a cent.
"Under these
circumstances, I decided to continue training. This was the most appropriate
decision to make, as I was representing my country, Palestine. During this time,
I was supported by a Jordanian coach by the name of Issa Mut'eb Al-Adwan. He is
considered to be a legend in the field of long-distance training as well as a
champion-maker. Until now, I have received his support, encouragement, and
guidance from him. My next step was to participate in several international
championships in the Arab Republic of Egypt, where I won third place in the
Masters category," said al-Nattil.
During the toughest times of his athletic
career, he began to achieve the most challenging and difficult achievements,
and the harsh circumstances forced him to become another champion who is
writing his own history for Palestinian sports as well as for his athletic
career. In order to move forward, he had to overcome the scenes of death and
destruction he saw in Gaza, as well as the anxieties he felt over his family.
"In January 2026, I
received an invitation to participate in the Ultra Trail Gazelles Sahara in
Tunisia. I continued training regardless of the difficult psychological condition
that I was experiencing, and my biggest goal was to raise Palestine's name.
This gave me a strong will and determination. Taking part in this event was a
significant challenge, as it was the longest distance ever run in Palestinian
athletic history. I got third place in the Masters category on this
international race. The trail covered 110 km in 15 hours, 53 minutes, and 47
seconds. As well as Palestine, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Denmark,
Portugal, France, Britain, and many other countries that took part in the event."
It is noteworthy that Sami Al-Nattil
overcame the circumstances of the genocide and his separation from his family
to achieve a great accomplishment in one of the most difficult athletic
championships in the world. In doing so, he became the first Palestinian
athlete to achieve this feat. According to Al-Nattil, he is hoping that the
Palestinian Athletics Federation, headed by Dr. Mazen Al-Khatib, will be
accepted into the International Ultra Running Association as a member under its
umbrella. It is expected that Palestine will be represented at all of the
championships. In his speech, he promises a number of victories in Palestinian
sports in the future, but emphasizes the need for support and training camps to
achieve this.
In addition, it is worth
mentioning that he participated in his first ultra marathon in 2021 in Tunisia,
in the Tozeur desert, covering a distance of 50 km, where he secured second
place in the race.
The second time he
participated, it was in 2022, when he covered 84 km in the Wadi Rum desert in
Jordan. He finished second in that race as well.
In 2023, he took part in his
third edition of the race in Jordan, where he finished third out of a field of
thirty three runners in an 84 km relay race in the Wadi Rum desert.
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