Photos show soccer’s return to Gaza as amputees and local teams play on improvised field

JEHAD ALSHRAFI

Sat, February 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC

1 min read

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APTOPIX Palestinians Gaza Soccer

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Palestinian players of Gaza Sports Club and Al-Ahly Club take part in a soccer match at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

JABALIA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s main soccer stadium was leveled during the Israel-Hamas war and it now serves as a tent camp for displaced families.

In the Jabalia camp, however, the Palestinian Football Federation has carved out a new space for the game. They have cleared rubble, laid down worn artificial turf and erected a fence beside the remains of destroyed buildings.

Palestinian amputees trained on the improvised field on Wednesday and on Saturday, two local teams faced off in a game on the same ground.

Despite widespread destruction from the war and a fragile ceasefire, many here are reclaiming fragments of ordinary life, including soccer.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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