Gaza girls find healing in boxing amid war trauma

Khan Yunis, Palestinian Territories: Amid tens of thousands of displaced people in southern Gaza, a dozen young girls stretch and shadowbox in a rudimentary ring marked out on the sand, striking hard as their coach calls out combinations.

Osama Ayub previously managed a boxing gym in Gaza City, razed by an Israeli airstrike during the Israel-Hamas conflict that also flattened his residence. Now sheltering in Khan Yunis, he has repurposed his expertise to support camp residents squeezed into tents.

"We decided to work inside the camp to offer the girls some psychological relief from the war," Ayub told AFP. Nearby, trainees pair off for sparring amid shouts of encouragement, while others hammer a heavy bag.

"The girls have been affected by the war and the bombardments; some have lost their families or loved ones. They feel pain and want to release it, so they have found in boxing a way to express their emotions," Ayub said. He leads complimentary sessions thrice weekly for 45 girls aged 8 to 19, drawing acclaim from participants and locals alike.

Ghazal Radwan, 14, dreams big: " I practise boxing to develop my character, release pent-up energy and to become a champion in the future, compete against world champions in other countries, and raise the Palestinian flag around the world," she shared with AFP.

Under Ayub's direction, the group cycles through jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts. Resource shortages in devastated Gaza meant creativity: "We brought wood and built a square boxing ring, but there are no mats or safety measures," he explained.

Ayub seeks international backing to fund overseas training trips for mental resilience building. Israel's tight Gaza blockade routinely bars construction supplies, stalling sports infrastructure. Wafa news agency noted in January that Chinese-donated synthetic turf for youth programs was blocked at entry.

Amid critical lacks in medical supplies, nutrition, and power, athletic equipment falls far down the aid priority list. Rimas, 16, affirmed their resolve: " to practise boxing despite the war, the bombardments and the destruction."

To global audiences, she pleaded: "We, the girls who box, hope for your support, that you will bring us gloves and shoes. We train on sand and need mats and punching bags."

(Inputs from AFP)