The Legacy of Hope and Tragedy in Khan Younis

Khan Younis, Gaza – In the ruins of his home, Shaker Safi, a 75-year-old father, clings to memories encapsulated in fading photographs of his son, Mohammed, whose life was abruptly halted by war. With each image of medals and team huddles, Shaker is reminded of a dream that has been violently destroyed.

On November 15, 2023, an Israeli airstrike took the life of Mohammed Safi, a beloved football coach and physical education teacher. His passion for sport had been a beacon of hope, transforming underdog teams into champions and nurturing young talent in schools and community clubs. As head coach of Al-Amal Football Club, he dedicated himself to empowering youth aged six to sixteen through the transformative power of athletics.

“My son dreamt of representing Palestine internationally,” Shaker reminisces, his voice laced with sorrow. “He believed sport could lift youth from despair. But war reached him before he could reach the world.”

The Pain of Displacement

Mohammed’s death left an indelible void, displacing his wife, Nermeen, and their four children: 16-year-old Shaker Jr., 14-year-old Amir, 11-year-old Alma, and 7-year-old Taif. They now occupy a space filled with grief, clutching their father’s final football notes as cherished keepsakes. Nermeen, an art teacher, comforts her children, particularly little Taif, who asks, “Why did they take Daddy from us?”

“He was a man of dreams, not politics,” she reflects. “He wanted to become an international referee, to receive his master’s degree. Instead, he was killed for being a symbol of life and youth.”

A Broader Impact

Mohammed’s story is but one among many. The Palestinian Olympic Committee reports that since the onset of conflict on October 7, 2023, 582 athletes—including national team players, coaches, and administrators—have been killed or displaced. This statistic underscores a broader tragedy engulfing the sports community in Gaza.

Sports Replaced by Survival

For many in Gaza, survival has supplanted sporting ambitions. Yousef Abu Shawarib, a 20-year-old goalkeeper for Rafah’s premier league team, encapsulates this painful shift. After fleeing his home in May 2024, he now seeks shelter in Khan Younis Stadium, a once-vibrant venue that has transformed into a shelter lined with tents instead of athletes.

“This is where my coach used to brief me before games,” he recalls, standing near the bench area, which has now become a water distribution point. “Now I wait here for water, not for kickoff.” His aspirations of studying sports sciences in Germany and playing professionally have been dashed, reduced to mere hopes of food and safety.

Hope Beneath the Rubble

Yet, a glimmer of hope persists amid the devastation. Coaches like Shadi Abu Armanah, head of Palestine’s amputee football team, have not given up. Before the conflict, Shadi’s team was poised for significant competitions, a symbol of resilience in the face of hardship. Now, they can’t even gather to train.

“All our facilities have been destroyed,” Shadi laments, reflecting on the impact on his players, many of whom have lost homes and loved ones. “For amputees, sport was a second chance. Now they are just trying to survive.” His own home has been bombed, rendering him displaced like many others.

A Systematic Erasure

The destruction goes beyond personal tragedies; it signifies a systematic erasure of Gaza’s sporting future. According to Asaad al-Majdalawi, vice president of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, approximately 270 sports facilities have been impacted or destroyed. The material losses are staggering, estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Every major component of Gaza’s sports system has been hit,” al-Majdalawi reveals. He mentions the names of high-profile athletes lost, underscoring the grievous impact on community spirit. “This is not just loss – it’s extermination. Each athlete was a pillar. Losing them wounds Palestinian society deeply.”

A Global Silence

Despite these calamities, al-Majdalawi expresses disappointment at the international response, or lack thereof. Outreach to global federations and Olympic bodies has often been met with silence, leaving the Palestinian sports community feeling isolated and unheard.

“In private, many sympathize, but at the decision-making level, it seems there’s no accountability,” he states. “It’s like sport doesn’t matter when it’s Palestinian. Global institutions appear complicit through their silence.”

As the war continues to ravage Gaza, the fate of its sports sector hangs precariously. Yet, amid the rubble, families like Shaker Safi’s, and athletes like Yousef and Shadi, continue to cling to the belief that sport will one day serve as a vessel of hope, identity, and life for the Palestinian people.