Gaza Teenager Finds Refuge in Football After Losing Family in Strike

A 16-year-old from northern Gaza survived an Israeli air attack on October 11, 2024, that killed his immediate family in the Jabalia refugee camp. The teenager was at home with his parents and two older brothers when the strike brought down their multistorey building.

He was buried under the rubble for about 10 minutes before his grandmother dug him out. The teenager told Al Jazeera he woke up on a ventilator in a neighbor's house and described surviving as a miracle. Relentless bombing prevented a proper funeral, so he buried his family in a makeshift plot.

Overnight he became responsible for his elderly grandmother, now living among displaced people in Shati refugee camp where he lights fires and carries water containers. Before the war the teenager was a promising player for a local club. The club no longer functions after pitches were destroyed and many teammates were killed.

The Palestinian Football Association recently organized a tournament for players born in 2009 on one of the last remaining suitable patches of land in Gaza.

The teenager said playing football removes boredom and releases negative energy even though the pitch brings back memories of his lost family. Most of his teammates have brothers and fathers to motivate them, but he has no one to cheer for him now. He said his life flipped from happiness to grief and that he used to be pampered but is now responsible for everything.

The head of the media department at the Palestinian Football Association in Gaza told Al Jazeera that the teenager is one of tens of thousands of talented children who have lost their families, clubs, academies and education. According to the association, the offensive has killed 1,113 people affiliated with the sports sector, including more than 560 football players, coaches and administrators.

The Palestinian Football Association reported that 265 sports facilities have been destroyed or damaged over the past two-and-a-half years. All 56 football clubs in Gaza from north to south have been severely affected. The teenager's former club was destroyed and the site was temporarily used as a detention and interrogation center.

With main stadiums bombed or turned into shelters, the association has organized youth tournaments on three small remaining pitches in Gaza City, Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah. Players must walk three to four kilometres through tents and rubble to reach the fields.

The teenager said the journey drains him psychologically before he even steps onto the field. The association official said the security situation remains extremely dangerous with players exposed to the risk of sudden air strikes. He added that the determination of the players and the association pushes them to resume activities and sends a message that Palestinian youth are capable of rising from the rubble.

Palestinian sports officials have expressed frustration with FIFA over what they described as a lack of support. The association official noted that FIFA suspended Russia and banned its clubs after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine but has taken no similar action regarding Israel.

The Palestinian Football Association is now seeking justice through international sports tribunals while awaiting a permanent ceasefire to rebuild infrastructure. The teenager said he could never have imagined reaching a point where he is entirely alone.

He added that stepping onto the dirt pitch helps keep his father's legacy alive. His stated goal is to become a professional footballer, a dream he said was shared by his mother and father.