A meaningful friendly match was played Tuesday at Palestine Stadium in Gaza. The Gaza Willpower team, made up of amputee footballers, met Türkiye’s Ankara team with the support of Türkiye’s Deniz Feneri Association.
As the players took to the field on crutches, the national anthems of the two countries were played, while Palestinian and Turkish flags flew around the stadium. Nearby, the destruction caused by Israel’s war could be seen. On a field surrounded by rubble, the footballers competed with great determination despite having lost limbs.
A message of hope and solidarity
Deniz Feneri Association spokesperson Ziyad Abu Odeh told AA that they had carried out aid efforts in various fields since the beginning of the war and said they organized the “Hope Disabled Football Tournament” to offer Palestinians in Gaza a different kind of event.
“Through this tournament, we aim to restore spirit and sporting life to our heroes in Gaza and give them hope, because sport is a symbol of determination and hope,” Abu Odeh said.
Saad al-Masri, a player on the Gaza Willpower team, said the match was a “message of love and communication” between Palestinians and Turks. Thanking the Turkish people for their support for the Palestinian cause, al-Masri said, “We came here today to show that we have a just cause and a message, that we love life, and that we want to play and fly the Palestinian flag in the international arena.” Al-Masri also asked the Ankara team to support Gaza Willpower.
World Cup target
Hatem al-Maghribi, manager of the Gaza Willpower team, said the match aimed to convey a “message of love and gratitude” to the Turkish people and government, especially the Ankara team. “Today, our bodies and hearts came together with a message of love and affection that reflects the depth of Palestinian-Turkish relations,” al-Maghribi said.
Referring to the team’s goals, al-Maghribi said, “We want this team to become a pioneer across Palestine and to represent the Palestinian national amputee football team at upcoming international events, especially the World Cup.” He also appealed to supporting organizations for assistance so that the players can continue playing sports and represent Palestine on international platforms.
Israel has been waging a genocidal war in Gaza with the support of the United States since October 8, 2023. More than 73,000 people have been killed, more than 173,000 wounded and approximately 90 percent of civilian infrastructure has been destroyed in the attacks.
