GAZA CITY, Gaza – A determined young footballer from Gaza is striving to keep his dreams alive amid the ongoing conflict, stating, “I feel like I’m dying every day.” Mohamed Abu Jalda continues to pursue his goal of playing professional football, despite the overwhelming challenges posed by living “under constant fire.”
Currently residing in a camp for displaced individuals after fleeing his home, Abu Jalda practices on the beach in the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
“I am Mohamed Abu Jalda, a player for the Rafah Services Club, a first-division football team in Gaza,” he expressed. “My ambition has always been to become a great football player, similar to others around the world. However, the war has put my dreams and life on hold. At 20, I aspire to go professional, but the constant conflict hampers my ambitions.”
“Every day feels like a struggle; may God grant us the patience to endure this life. Originally from Rafah, I now reside in the Shaboura camp for displaced people. It has been five months since I relocated, and whenever I manage to find free time, I head to the beach—the only place I can practice football. We were displaced, and no one has come to support us. I want my voice to reach the world.”
Abu Jalda has been pursuing his passion for football since he was ten years old, yet at over 20, he feels trapped due to the oppressive conditions in Gaza. “What makes me different from anyone else wanting to succeed in football? I have the same physical attributes,” he stated. “The war has robbed me of opportunities. While I was fit before, displacement has impacted my training.”
He trains every three days, hoping to fulfill his dream and send a message of resilience to the world. “I have the right to become a professional footballer just like anyone else,” he insists. “I aspire to play for the Palestinian national team because it is my right.”
“Let them challenge me, and I will demonstrate all the skills I possess in football,” he vowed.
