Over 1,000 sports people killed, 265 facilities destroyed in Israeli war on Gaza, official says

By Hosni Nedim

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – At least 1,007 Palestinians sports people were killed and 265 facilities destroyed during Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the Palestinian Olympic Committee said Monday.

Addressing a press conference, Asaad Al-Majdalawi, the committee’s vice president, said that 45 women were among the victims.

He also reported damage to 265 sports facilities across the Gaza Strip, including 184 completely destroyed and 81 others partially damaged.

“This destruction has deprived thousands of young people and adolescents of their right to train and practice sports,” he added.

Majdalawi said the losses extend beyond statistics to include psychological and social impacts as trauma among athletes, disruption of sports development programs, reduced professional opportunities and the loss of income for many workers in the sector.

A US-backed ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since Oct. 10, halting Israel’s two-year war that has killed more than 72,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,000 others since October 2023.

Since the agreement took effect on Oct. 10, Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations through shelling and gunfire, killing 603 Palestinians and injuring 1,618 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

​​​​​​​*Writing by Rania Abushamala