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Palestine advances in Arab Cup as Gaza faces floods
A winter storm lashes the Gaza Strip as Palestinians rally behind their national football team, which has reached the Arab Cup quarterfinals for the first time. While coach Ehab Abu Jazar prepares to face Saudi Arabia in Qatar, his mother, Huda, braces for floods in a displacement camp.
From suffering to success
Huda Abu Jazar, sheltering in a tent in al-Mawasi on Gaza's southern coast, describes the team's achievements as a rare source of joy amid devastation. "From the womb of suffering, success is born," she told reporters. "They feel for us, and they know what has happened to us."
Her son, Ehab Abu Jazar, the national team's head coach from Rafah, dedicates the team's historic run to her. "Every match is an opportunity to prove ourselves," he said. "We are sending a message to the world that we are a people who love life."
Historic wins unite Palestinians
Palestine's dramatic 1-0 victory over Asian champions Qatar in the tournament opener sparked celebrations across Gaza, where displaced residents crowded into coffee shops to watch. The team later fought back from a 2-0 deficit to draw with Tunisia before securing a goalless draw that clinched their quarterfinal spot.
Most players, drawn from the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the diaspora, and Palestinian citizens of Israel, have never visited Gaza. Yet their success has become a symbol of national unity, resonating deeply as Israel's war on Hamas enters its third year.
Footballers pay tribute to fallen stars
Many Palestinian players have been killed in Israeli strikes. In September, the team honored former captain Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the "Pelé of Palestine," before a friendly against Malaysia. Al-Obeid, a father of five, was killed in August when an Israeli quadcopter fired on a group seeking aid at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site.
"We were taking cover behind a sand barrier. Suddenly a quadcopter came and directly filmed Suleiman. Then it turned around and fired, killing him instantly."
Tarrad al-Obeid, brother of the late footballer
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it found no record of casualties from Israeli fire at aid sites on the day al-Obeid died. The IDF has previously denied targeting civilians, though reports of killings at GHF sites were frequent before the foundation ceased operations in November.
Coach's mother offers tactical advice amid hardship
Ehab Abu Jazar, who has been outside Gaza during the war, says his mother avoids discussing her struggles when they speak. "She talks to me about nothing but the team," he told AFP. "She asks about the players, tactics, and morale."
Huda, meanwhile, endures dire conditions in her tent. "We're suffering like any Palestinian family," she said. "There are shortages of everything-water, food, electricity. It's cold, and our tents flood."
Next match amid connectivity woes
Palestine faces Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals on Thursday. In Gaza, where internet outages are common, many rely on mobile phones to follow the match. The storm has worsened conditions, but Huda remains hopeful. "There is no other joy than football," she said. "May God honor my son."
