GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Thousands of displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza have sought refuge in what was once the territory’s biggest soccer arena, where families scrape by with little food or water as they try to keep one step ahead of Israel’s latest offensive.
Their makeshift tents hug the shade below the stadium’s seating, with clothes hung in the July sun across the dusty, dried-up soccer field. Under the covered benches where players used to sit on the sidelines, Um Bashar bathes a toddler standing in a plastic tub. Lathering soap through the boy’s hair, he wiggles and shivers as she pours the chilly water over his head, and he grips the plastic seats for balance.
They’ve been displaced multiple times, she said, most recently from Israel’s renewed operations against Hamas in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City.
“We woke up and found tanks in front of the door,” she says. “We didn’t take anything with us, not a mattress, not a pillow, not any clothes, not a thing. Not even food.”
She fled with about 70 others to Yarmouk Sports Stadium — a little under 2 miles (3 kilometers) northwest of Shijaiyah, which was heavily bombed and largely emptied early in the war. Many of the people who ended up in the stadium say they have nothing to return to.
“We left our homes,” said one man, Hazem Abu Thoraya, “and all of our homes were bombed and burned, and all those around us were as well.”
Hundreds of thousands of people have remained in northern Gaza, even as Israeli troops have surrounded and largely isolated it. However, aid flows there have improved recently, and the U.N. said earlier this week that it is now able to meet people’s basic needs in the north. Israel says it allows aid to enter Gaza and blames the U.N. for not doing enough to move it.
Still, residents say the deprivation and insecurity are taking an ever-growing toll.
“There is no safe place. Safety is with God,” said a displaced woman, Um Ahmad. “Fear is now felt not only among the children, but also among the adults. … We don’t even feel safe walking in the street.”
In recent years, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has led to a significant increase in the number of displaced Palestinians seeking refuge in Gaza. With limited resources and overcrowded living conditions, many of these individuals have found shelter in unexpected places, including Gaza’s largest soccer stadium.
The Gaza Strip, a small coastal enclave that is home to over two million Palestinians, has been at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. The region has been plagued by violence, political instability, and economic hardship, leading to widespread displacement and a growing humanitarian crisis.
In recent years, the situation has only worsened, with thousands of Palestinians being forced to flee their homes due to Israeli airstrikes, land confiscation, and other forms of violence. With nowhere else to turn, many of these displaced individuals have sought refuge in Gaza’s largest soccer stadium, which has been transformed into a makeshift shelter for those in need.
The stadium, which was once a place for sports and entertainment, now serves as a temporary home for thousands of families who have been left homeless by the conflict. Makeshift tents and shelters have been set up on the field and in the stands, providing basic protection from the elements for those who have nowhere else to go.
Despite the challenging conditions, the stadium has become a beacon of hope for many displaced Palestinians. With limited access to food, water, and medical supplies, humanitarian organizations have stepped in to provide assistance to those in need. Volunteers work tirelessly to distribute aid and support to the families living in the stadium, offering a lifeline to those who have lost everything.
While the situation in Gaza remains dire, the resilience and strength of the Palestinian people shine through in moments of crisis. Despite facing unimaginable hardships, many displaced individuals have found solace and solidarity in their shared struggle for survival. The stadium has become a symbol of resilience and resistance, a testament to the power of community and collective action in the face of adversity.
As the conflict continues to escalate and the humanitarian crisis deepens, it is crucial that the international community steps up to support the displaced Palestinians in Gaza. Providing much-needed aid, resources, and assistance to those in need is essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable populations in the region.
In the midst of chaos and destruction, Gaza’s largest soccer stadium has become a place of refuge and solidarity for thousands of displaced Palestinians. It is a reminder of the strength and resilience of a people who refuse to be silenced or forgotten in the face of adversity.
