Palestine’s Olympians: amid Gaza onslaught, 8 athletes hope to bring smiles from Paris
- According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, as of July, around 400 athletes, coaches and sporting officials have been killed or wounded
As the deadly bombardment continues to ravage Gaza, eight athletes will be representing Palestine at the Paris Olympics.
They will deliver “a great message of peace, showing the world what Palestinians are aspiring to”, Nader Jayousi, the technical director of the Palestine Olympic Committee (POC), told France 24 in April. “In the middle of all these atrocities and all these tragedies, people will see athletes who insist on making their dream come true, on representing a country and a cause.”
Palestine have been represented on the International Olympic Committee since 1995 despite a lack of statehood, and their athletes have taken part in every Summer Olympics since 1996.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, as of July, at least 38,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive in October in the wake of Hamas attacks, with around 400 athletes, coaches and sporting officials killed or wounded.
Ahead of the Paris Games, here is a look at some of the Palestinian athletes taking part despite all the fierce struggles: who they are, which sports they will be competing in, and their stories.