GAZA / PNN /

For the children training at Al-Zaytoun Club’s karate academy in the Gaza Strip, the dojo was more than a place to practise martial arts. It was a second home, where friendships flourished, team spirit brought players together and young athletes shared a dream of achieving success in local and international competitions.

Khalil Ayyad, the academy’s karate coach, said its mission had always extended beyond winning medals. It aimed to develop disciplined athletes with strong moral values, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they could draw on both in sport and in everyday life.

Before the war, the academy had the equipment and facilities needed to prepare its athletes for international competitions. But the war brought their sporting journeys to a halt, leaving many of their ambitions and dreams shattered.

Today, the academy has relocated to a space inside an agricultural greenhouse, where coaches and players continue training with limited resources. They rely largely on their own efforts, determination and perseverance, with little support from sponsors or organisations willing to back the club and its athletes.

Displacement has created further obstacles for the young athletes and their families, particularly when it comes to reaching training sessions. Some players travel from distant parts of Gaza and struggle with limited transport options and high travel costs.

Sports equipment is also in critically short supply. Ayyad said the problem was not simply that equipment had become expensive, but that much of it was unavailable altogether.

Despite these challenges, the academy remains determined to expand its pool of athletes, improve their technical abilities and compete in international tournaments, giving its players the opportunity to represent Palestine and raise its flag on the global sporting stage. Ayyad said these ambitions had been central to the club since its establishment.

For the children, however, karate offers something beyond competition. After years of war, pressure and psychological hardship, training provides an important outlet. Physical exercise helps them channel negative energy in a positive way, ease tension and improve their mood.

Ayyad said determination remained the most important factor in keeping the academy going despite the hardships. Circumstances might delay the achievement of its goals, he said, but they could not destroy the dream.

For Khaled Jahjouh, one of the academy’s athletes who now lives in Deir al-Balah, karate became a way to move forward after his family’s home was bombed and they were forced to flee Gaza.

Jahjouh said he joined the club because he wanted a way to release his energy, build strength, practise sport and get to know his fellow athletes and coach.

The academy, he explained, was about more than learning karate. It had become a home for its players and a place where they could train, interact with others and find a sense of belonging. He hopes to develop his skills and progress through the belt ranks while enjoying training and spending time with his teammates.

The experience of Al-Zaytoun Club’s karate academy reflects the reality facing children across Gaza as they try to reclaim fragments of normal life through sport amid displacement and severe shortages. With limited resources and a future clouded by uncertainty, the young athletes continue to hold on to their ambitions, determined to keep training and competing despite the obstacles.

This video was produced with financial support from CFI, Expertise France and the European Union. Full responsibility for the content of this document rests with the beneficiary. Under no circumstances should it be considered to reflect the views of CFI, Expertise France or the European Union.