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.