(AGENPARL) - Roma, 13 Febbraio 2026 - (AGENPARL) – Fri 13 February 2026 The Impact of Israeli Aggression on
the Palestinian Sports Sector
October 2023 – August 2025
Prepared by: Palestine Olympic Committee (POC)
Introduction
This report documents the
impact of Israeli aggression on the
Palestinian sports sector from October 2023 to August 2025.
The Palestine Olympic Committee (POC) has meticulously collected and
verified data on sports-related casualties across all federations and
institutions.
The report aims to raise awareness within the international sports
community about the devastating effects of the aggression on
Palestinian athletes, coaches, and sports infrastructure.
The findings reveal an unprecedented toll on the sports
community, with 684 documented martyrs across 34 sports
federations and institutions.
Total Martyrs by Federation
The Palestine Olympic Committee has
documented a total of
684 martyrs across 34
sports federations and institutions.
The Palestinian Football Association suffered
the highest casualties with 367 martyrs,
including referees, club presidents, coaches,
administrators, and players.
The Palestinian Scouts and Guides Association
recorded 54 martyrs, while the Karate Federation
lost 31 members.
These figures represent a devastating blow to
Palestinian sports development and community
engagement.
Source: Palestine Olympic Committee (POC), August 2025
Age Distribution of Martyrs
The data reveals a significant impact on
young
athletes and sports participants, with 178
martyrs (26%) in the 6-20 age category.
The 20-30 age group accounts for 143 martyrs
(21%), representing a substantial loss of athletes in
their prime competitive years.
Senior sports leaders and veterans (50+ years)
constitute 111 martyrs (16%), including federation
presidents and experienced administrators.
This age distribution highlights the multi- generational impact
on Palestinian sports development and leadership continuity.
Source: Palestine Olympic Committee (POC), August 2025
Gender Distribution
The data shows that
647 male sports
participants (95%) were martyred during the
period of October 2023 to August 2025.
Female sports participants account for
martyrs (5%), with the report noting that most
were children who were players or
administrators.
The loss of female participants, particularly
children, represents a significant setback to efforts
to increase women’s participation in Palestinian
sports.
Source: Palestine Olympic Committee (POC), August 2025
Notable Sports Figures
The conflict has claimed the lives of numerous prominent sports leaders
and athletes who were instrumental in developing Palestinian sports at
national and international levels.
Mohammad Salah Rashid Al-Dalou
(Martyred: October 13, 2023)
– President of the Table Tennis Federation
Kamel Sobhi Al-Yazji – President of the Powerlifting Federation
December 5, 2023)
(Martyred:
Ismail Abdel-Salam Haniyeh – Former Minister of Youth & Sports, Former
President of Al-Islami Club (Martyred: July 31, 2024)
Walid Abdullah Mohammad Ayoub
Committee (Martyred: June 4, 2024)
– Former Vice President, Palestine Olympic
Nagham Marwan Abu Samra – National Karate Champion, Palestine National
Team (Martyred: January 11, 2024)
Anan Mohammad Al-Rawwagh – International Referee, FIFA Badge 2000
(Martyred: March 17, 2023)
Sulaiman Al-Abeed, former Palestine national team player and one of Gaza’s football legends,
(Martyred: Aug. 05, 2025)
The loss of these leaders and athletes represents a significant setback to
sports governance and development in Palestine.
Impact on Sports Infrastructure
Beyond the human toll, the conflict has caused
extensive
damage to sports infrastructure across Palestinian
territories.
Multiple stadiums and sports complexes have been severely
damaged or completely destroyed, including major football stadiums
in Gaza.
Training facilities for various sports have been rendered unusable,
disrupting athlete development programs and regular training.
Youth sports academies and school facilities have been particularly
affected, limiting access to sports for the next generation.
The destruction has forced the cancellation of numerous local and
international competitions that were scheduled to take place in
Palestine.
The estimated cost to rebuild sports infrastructure is in the
hundreds of millions of dollars, with recovery expected to
take many years.
Damaged stadium in Gaza, 2024
Systematic Destruction of Sports Infrastructure
The Palestinian Football Association reports that Israeli
attacks have destroyed
approximately 290 sports
facilities in Gaza and the West Bank since October
2023.
23 large stadiums and sports fields demolished
12 FIFA-approved football fields destroyed
35 indoor multipurpose gyms obliterated
60 administrative headquarters of sports clubs reduced
to rubble
This systematic destruction has
effectively erased
decades of sports development
in Palestine and
violates international humanitarian law regarding the
protection of civilian infrastructure.
Source: Palestinian Football Association, August 2025
Al-Yarmouk Stadium: From Pride to Humiliation
Al-Yarmouk Stadium, one of Palestine’s
oldest sports venues
(established 1952), was once a symbol of national pride and
athletic achievement.
The stadium hosted international football matches, served
as a training ground for Olympic hopefuls, and was a
gathering place for community celebration.
During the conflict, Israeli forces
transformed the stadium
into a detention camp, where Palestinians were subjected
to humiliating treatment, including being stripped,
blindfolded, and held in inhumane conditions.
“Al Yarmouk stadium which was razed, destroyed and used as a detention camp in
the city of Gaza, was once a place of joy and national pride but became a place for
human humiliation.”
The destruction of Al-Yarmouk Stadium represents not only
the physical demolition of sports infrastructure but also the
erasure of cultural heritage and collective memory for
Palestinians.
Al-Yarmouk Stadium: Transformed from a sports venue to a detention center
Human Cost: Evidence of Genocide
The systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians, including
athletes and sports officials, raises serious concerns about
violations of international humanitarian law .
The destruction of sports infrastructure, detention of
athletes, and the dehumanization of Palestinians are part of
a broader pattern of actions that legal experts have
characterized as potential genocide.
The image shown represents the desecration of human
remains and disregard for human dignity that has been
documented throughout the conflict.
International Legal Implications
The targeting of civilian infrastructure, including sports facilities, and the
killing of 682 sports personnel may constitute war crimes and crimes against
humanity under international law, including the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court.
The Palestinian sports community calls for
international
accountability and protection of civilians in conflict zones.
Documented evidence of dehumanization: Israeli soldier stepping on human remains in Gaza
Conclusion & Call to Action
This report documents the
unprecedented impact of the Israeli
aggression on Palestinian sports, with 681 martyrs across 34 federations
and institutions, and extensive damage to sports infrastructure.
Call to Action
We urgently call upon the international community, sports federations, and advocates of
justice and humanity to:
•Ensure the protection of Palestinian athletes from any threats or harassment.
•Guarantee their free participation in international competitions without obstacles.
•Support Palestinian sports as a means of development, dialogue, and spreading values of
solidarity and humanity.
Let sports be a bridge for peace, and let every Palestinian participation carry a message of
hope to the world. Do not allow Palestinians to be denied their right to compete, as they
have been denied rights in many other arenas of life.
It is time to stand with Palestinian athletes, to protect sports, and to plant the seeds of
hope and justice.