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Palestinians Launch Thousand Martyrs Cup Amid Gaza Sports Destruction

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 11:35 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Palestinian Football Association launched the Thousand Martyrs Cup to revive football in West Bank, Gaza and Lebanese camps.
The cup is named for 1,014 athletes killed since October 2023 during Israel’s war on Gaza and the West Bank.
Israeli attacks have damaged 265 sports facilities, destroying 90 percent of Gaza’s stadiums, some now housing displaced families.
Checkpoints block teams, forcing many professionals to revert to amateur status.

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Story summary

Palestinian Football Association launched the Thousand Martyrs Cup to revive football in West Bank, Gaza and Lebanese camps.
The cup is named for 1,014 athletes killed since October 2023 during Israel’s war on Gaza and the West Bank.
Israeli attacks have damaged 265 sports facilities, destroying 90 percent of Gaza’s stadiums, some now housing displaced families.
Checkpoints block teams, forcing many professionals to revert to amateur status.