The War on Gaza Holds Palestinian Professional Sports Hostage: Footballer Ghassan Abu Odeh
Ittihad Al-Shuja’iyya Club Footballer Ghassan Abu Odeh
GAZA, January 27, 2025 - "I dug a grave and buried him with my own hands." These haunting words come from Ghassan Abu Odeh, a 27-year-old footballer for Ittihad Al-Shuja'iyya Club in Gaza City, as he recounts the unimaginable suffering he has endured.
His teammate, Rashid Dabour, who played for the Palestine national football team and Ahli Beit Hanoun Sports Club, was killed on October 11, 2023, along with his wife's family. Forced to leave his home in Beit Hanoun due to its proximity to the border, Abu Odeh relocated to Al-Nasr, west of Gaza City. However, as the attacks intensified, Dabour was buried in Beit Lahia, north of Jabalia, near the armistice line with Israel.
DIGGING HIS GRAVE Abu Odeh stares at his hands as if they still bear the weight of his grief. "I never imagined digging a grave for my friend. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced. We played together at my family's club in Beit Hanoun; he was like my shadow. Now, he is gone forever."
UNBEARABLE LOSS His face is pale, his sadness evident. "The loss is unbearable. Rashid was not just my teammate; he was my brother. I also lost many dear friends, including international players like Mohamed Barakat, Mohamed Al-Malfouh, Tarek Al-Kafarna, Ahmed Abu Al-Ata, and even my uncle. They were all taken by the war on Gaza."
A RISING FOOTBALL STAR Abu Odeh, an offence player, has grown into a league star over the years. He started at Ahli Beit Hanoun Club, helping it reach the Premier League in the 2017-2018 season. His career took him through various clubs, including Jabalia Youth Team and Ittihad Beit Hanoun Sports Club, before eventually joining Ittihad Al-Shuja’iyya. Known for his speed and powerful headers, he became one of the most sought-after attackers in Gaza.
PALESTINE PREMIER LEAGUE The war on Gaza abruptly halted the Premier League’s seventh round, where Ittihad Al-Shuja'iyya was leading the competition. "We had a strong start and were aiming for the championship," he recalls. "This was our season. We also made it to the semi-finals of the Palestine Cup. I was at the peak of my football career, but the war took everything: our dreams, our sport, our homes, our lives, and our future."
DISPLACEMENT & SURVIVAL After the war broke out on October 7, 2023, Abu Odeh and his family fled their home in Beit Hanoun, believing they would return in a few days. "I didn’t expect the bombing to be so brutal," he says. "We sought refuge at my grandfather’s house, but the attacks forced us to move again the next night. Displacement is a bitter reality for all Palestinians in Gaza."
His journey took him from Jabalia Camp to Deir al-Balah, constantly seeking safety. "We tried to leave Jabalia, but there was no transportation. We ended up spending the night in another school before moving south at dawn. The road was terrifying-bombs rained down on homes, massacres happened around us. Families carried what little they had, uncertain of where to go."
RESILIENCE AMID DESTRUCTION Despite the horrors, Abu Odeh refused to surrender. "These circumstances didn’t weaken me; they made me stronger. I trained at sea to maintain my physical fitness. Food was scarce, but I made do with whatever was available."
Many footballers fled Gaza during the war, see. "They deserve the opportunity to represent Palestine on the global stage. Players like Muhammad Balah, Badr Musa, Tariq Abu Ghanima, Tawfiq Al-Bayk, and Khaled Dader have a chance to shine." Sovereign professional careers abroad in Libya, Egypt, and beyond...
DREAMS OF PLAYING ABROAD Now, Abu Odeh finally takes his breath from the war with the last ceasefire deal made, only to return to the ruins of his bombarded home, waiting for the Rafah crossing to open. "My dream of playing professionally abroad is within reach. I won’t give up. I believe in my abilities. Before the war, I was the league’s top scorer. My coaches and teammates praised my skills. I will work even harder to achieve my goal."
HUMAN RIGHTS IGNORED International humanitarian law mandates the protection of civilians, including internally displaced persons. The Fourth Geneva Convention and additional protocols emphasize the responsibility of conflicting parties to safeguard civilian lives and prevent displacement. These protections, however, remain unfulfilled for the people of Gaza.
Nelly Al-Masri is a sports journalist from Gaza, Palestine.
Translated by Issam Khalid.
His teammate, Rashid Dabour, who played for the Palestine national football team and Ahli Beit Hanoun Sports Club, was killed on October 11, 2023, along with his wife's family. Forced to leave his home in Beit Hanoun due to its proximity to the border, Abu Odeh relocated to Al-Nasr, west of Gaza City. However, as the attacks intensified, Dabour was buried in Beit Lahia, north of Jabalia, near the armistice line with Israel.
DIGGING HIS GRAVE Abu Odeh stares at his hands as if they still bear the weight of his grief. "I never imagined digging a grave for my friend. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced. We played together at my family's club in Beit Hanoun; he was like my shadow. Now, he is gone forever."
UNBEARABLE LOSS His face is pale, his sadness evident. "The loss is unbearable. Rashid was not just my teammate; he was my brother. I also lost many dear friends, including international players like Mohamed Barakat, Mohamed Al-Malfouh, Tarek Al-Kafarna, Ahmed Abu Al-Ata, and even my uncle. They were all taken by the war on Gaza."
A RISING FOOTBALL STAR Abu Odeh, an offence player, has grown into a league star over the years. He started at Ahli Beit Hanoun Club, helping it reach the Premier League in the 2017-2018 season. His career took him through various clubs, including Jabalia Youth Team and Ittihad Beit Hanoun Sports Club, before eventually joining Ittihad Al-Shuja’iyya. Known for his speed and powerful headers, he became one of the most sought-after attackers in Gaza.
PALESTINE PREMIER LEAGUE The war on Gaza abruptly halted the Premier League’s seventh round, where Ittihad Al-Shuja'iyya was leading the competition. "We had a strong start and were aiming for the championship," he recalls. "This was our season. We also made it to the semi-finals of the Palestine Cup. I was at the peak of my football career, but the war took everything: our dreams, our sport, our homes, our lives, and our future."
DISPLACEMENT & SURVIVAL After the war broke out on October 7, 2023, Abu Odeh and his family fled their home in Beit Hanoun, believing they would return in a few days. "I didn’t expect the bombing to be so brutal," he says. "We sought refuge at my grandfather’s house, but the attacks forced us to move again the next night. Displacement is a bitter reality for all Palestinians in Gaza."
His journey took him from Jabalia Camp to Deir al-Balah, constantly seeking safety. "We tried to leave Jabalia, but there was no transportation. We ended up spending the night in another school before moving south at dawn. The road was terrifying-bombs rained down on homes, massacres happened around us. Families carried what little they had, uncertain of where to go."
RESILIENCE AMID DESTRUCTION Despite the horrors, Abu Odeh refused to surrender. "These circumstances didn’t weaken me; they made me stronger. I trained at sea to maintain my physical fitness. Food was scarce, but I made do with whatever was available."
Many footballers fled Gaza during the war, see. "They deserve the opportunity to represent Palestine on the global stage. Players like Muhammad Balah, Badr Musa, Tariq Abu Ghanima, Tawfiq Al-Bayk, and Khaled Dader have a chance to shine." Sovereign professional careers abroad in Libya, Egypt, and beyond...
DREAMS OF PLAYING ABROAD Now, Abu Odeh finally takes his breath from the war with the last ceasefire deal made, only to return to the ruins of his bombarded home, waiting for the Rafah crossing to open. "My dream of playing professionally abroad is within reach. I won’t give up. I believe in my abilities. Before the war, I was the league’s top scorer. My coaches and teammates praised my skills. I will work even harder to achieve my goal."
HUMAN RIGHTS IGNORED International humanitarian law mandates the protection of civilians, including internally displaced persons. The Fourth Geneva Convention and additional protocols emphasize the responsibility of conflicting parties to safeguard civilian lives and prevent displacement. These protections, however, remain unfulfilled for the people of Gaza.
Nelly Al-Masri is a sports journalist from Gaza, Palestine.
Translated by Issam Khalid.
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