Among them is footballer Fadi Al-Arawi, a player in Gaza’s Premier League, who has been unable to play professionally since sports activities were suspended following the outbreak of war more than two years ago.
As Qatar faced Switzerland in a World Cup match, Al-Arawi wore his old Gaza Sports Club uniform and medals while attempting to watch the game on a laptop inside a school that has been converted into a shelter for displaced families in Khan Younis.
Struggling with an unstable internet connection and frequent power disruptions, he told Reuters that life in Gaza remains overshadowed by uncertainty and fear, with Israeli drones regularly flying overhead.
Much of Gaza’s infrastructure has been severely damaged during the conflict that followed the October 2023 Hamas attacks. Despite a truce reached in October 2025, Israeli military operations have continued, while Hamas has rejected demands to disarm in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal.
Most of Gaza’s population of more than two million people now lives in tents, shelters or damaged buildings.
In Gaza City, café owner Alaa Babli has installed backup power systems to ensure football fans can continue watching matches despite electricity shortages. Residents gathering to watch games say they remain concerned about security risks whenever they are in public places.
The Palestinian Football Association says around 1,000 athletes have been killed during the conflict since 2023, including professional players, referees and young sports participants. It also says approximately 285 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed.
Among them is Gaza City s Al-Yarmouk Stadium, once the territory’s premier football venue, which has now been transformed into a shelter for displaced families.
Mustafa Siam of the Palestinian Football Association said Palestinian sports have suffered extensive losses during the conflict, affecting athletes, clubs and sporting infrastructure across the territory.
Despite the hardships, many Gazans continue to follow international football tournaments, viewing the sport as a rare source of hope and escape amid ongoing uncertainty.
