Update from Gaza Plays Peace: Spring 2024

Dear friends of Gaza Plays Peace,

Gaza plays Peace team (GPP) was established in the Northern area of Gaza Strip, in and around Gaza City. GPP was inspired by the story of the Bakr kids who were killed in the war of 2014. We started with 7 players in 2015 and before October 2023, we had over 40 players, who are excited and enthusiastic about the game and the vibes.

From October 7th until this day, GPP supervisors and coaches have no idea about most of the kids. What we know is that every kid lost a brother or a cousin, in addition to losing all their houses. If we start with the head coach, the mother, and the assistants, they all lost their houses and immediate siblings. In this newsletter, we are going to share with who is still in the south after everyone moved there, and also, we are going to name the kids who are still missing, and we have no information about. Ultimately, some of the kids, we have no information about them or their families, and most of them live between the area of the north and AL-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Players who are sheltering with their families in tents in Rafah:

  1. Omar W. Ahmed
  2. Khaled H. Ahmed
  3. Waleed H. Ahmed
  4. Yousif M. Zaqout
  5. Riyad W. Sbeitan
  6. Adli A. AL-Wazeer
  7. Mohammed H. Hatem
  8. Mohammed E. Rawhi
  9. Zain A. AL-Wazeer
A recent picture of Omar, Khaled, Waleed and Yousif. Finally, they found a place in Rafah to play soccer, but they are sad and miss all other young kids.

Missing players (still in the North, unsure of their status)

  1. Raed Abu Naji
  2. Mohammed Matar
  3. Yahya Awadi
  4. Abood Sbeitan
  5. Obaida H. Ahmed
  6. Mohammed Al-Wazeer
  7. Yahya Masawabi
  8. Yousif Abu Hasira
  9. Momen Al-Sabbah
  10. Adli Obaid
  11. Siraj Abu Hasira
  12. Ahmed Al-Sabbah
Coach Mohammed with his stars. Three kids from this picture are missing.
The Development Team before October 7th. Nowadays, we are missing most of them. We are crushed to see such innocence and brilliance getting killed viciously.

Players who we know have been killed:

Yahya AL-Awadi, age 9.
This brilliant boy was killed by the Israeli Forces. He was dreaming of becoming a soccer star, but the war was stronger than his dream.
Shady Mattar, age 11. Shadi Mattar.
This boy was starved to death along with his mom and two little sisters. Shadi was an elite school kid and a committed player. He and his entire family starved to death.
Ibrahim Sbeitan, age 14. The first team goalkeeper. He was a very strong player and super dedicated.
But his dedication was not enough for him to stay alive, and he was killed by the Israeli forces.

May these children and all the martyrs of Gaza rest in peace.