On October 7, Palestinian soccer player Mahmoud Wadi was recovering from injuries in Egypt when Israel launched its war on Gaza following Hamas attacks on southern Israel.
The 29-year-old from Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, is on tour with the Palestinian national team and has spent the past five months desperately searching for news about the well-being of his friends and family in the besieged enclave. He has lived through three Israeli attacks on Gaza, in 2008, 2012, and 2014, and remembers wondering whether he would make it to dawn each night.
Wadi, who currently lives in Cairo and plays for Arab Contractors in the Egyptian Premier League, will be part of the Palestine national team at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, where the team will be part of the historic 2023 AFC Asian Cup. We achieved the result of a round.
Al-Fida’i (known to their fans as the Palestine team) enjoyed enthusiastic support from spectators of different nationalities, religions, and age groups, and were on the verge of elimination against the Palestine team, who would play the hosts in the Round of 16. Tens of thousands of people gathered to support the Palestinian team. The final champion was Qatar. In an interview, Wadi spoke about the difficulty of performing at his best on the field while the war rages on in the country.
What did soccer mean to you growing up in Gaza?
Wadi: Soccer is the only escape from war and Israeli occupation. Young people and children become addicted to football because it allows them to distract themselves from their situations. Football puts them in a good mood. In Gaza we love soccer. However, due to the war that has been waged against us for many years, the harsh economic conditions, and the siege that has completely closed off Gaza and its people, our children are unable to realize their football dreams.
The Israeli occupation has always presented barriers and obstacles that prevent us from achieving this, and unfortunately, people are leaving Palestine. We are forced to look for other options.
Wadi: It is not easy to leave your country, home, family, and friends in search of a better future. It always brings a feeling of alienation and loneliness. But we make sacrifices for our ambitions. We are people who love life and want to live and follow our dreams just like everyone else. The difficult part is leaving behind loved ones.
I currently live abroad, but my family faces killing, destruction, and displacement in the Gaza Strip. I left Gaza, my family and friends to play soccer, but I live in fear and anxiety.
We are not leaving Palestine because it is not a beautiful country. We love our country above all else, but we must seek a better life.
What are the challenges of being a soccer player for the Palestinian national team?
Wadi: It’s not easy to be a soccer player considering the Israeli occupation and its obstacles. In Palestine, the inability to gather players for soccer camps has had a big impact.
Athletes from Gaza cannot enter the occupied West Bank and vice versa. Some athletes are unable to enter the country outside of Palestine. Despite the difficult circumstances, the Palestinian national team is gathering in various locations abroad. We have players from the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Palestine 48, various Palestinian refugee camps in the occupied territories, and the diaspora. In such a situation (like us) no team in the world can qualify for the prestigious regional championship. This alone is considered a great achievement and a source of pride for the Palestinian people.
We have always had dreams and ambitions, but the occupation is trying to destroy our spirit. We have risen from the rubble of his three wars to reach where we are today, and we hope to continue on this path. We draw strength from the courage and fortitude of our people.
How difficult is it to communicate with friends and family back home?
Wadi: It’s very difficult, especially when communication is cut off in Gaza. Since the war started, I have never put my cell phone down. Whether it’s in Egypt, traveling with the team, or in a training session. One morning, my brother disappeared. Due to communication failures, no one in the family knew anything. I was very worried for 10 hours until I heard from him. This is our situation. It’s a constant feeling of fear and an unimaginable situation. Not knowing where your loved one is and feeling helpless and unable to do anything is indescribable. All you can do is pray. Every second of our life is a test.
What do you think after talking to your family and friends in Gaza?
Wadi: They try to portray a small part of the reality that they live every day, but find it very difficult to express their emotions. The reality of war cannot be expressed in words. Our conversation focuses on the harsh and demanding conditions they face. But like everyone else in Gaza, they remain brave.
How was it when you reunited with your family for the first time in two months?
Wadi: After more than 80 days of war in Egypt, I met my mother, brother, and their families. I was imagining the horrors of war in my head, but when I saw their weak faces, eyes, weak bodies, and white hair, I realized that it was much worse than what I had imagined. It was something. I have experienced three wars. It was scary spending the night waiting for bombs to fall and crush you against the roof, but this war is not the same.
What is the remaining reminiscence of Gaza to your mind?
Wadi: I remember the people, their affection, and the bond of love. It feels good. My last memory of Gaza was the sea, the streets, the buildings, and the electricity schedule, which would be on for eight hours and then off for the next eight hours. Despite everything, Gaza continued to develop day by day. Clean streets, nice facilities, restaurants, chalets by the sea – this is the image of Gaza etched in my memory. Its sweetness and beauty are worth preserving. Despite the war, death, and destruction, this city is still beautiful and getting more beautiful. Build it the same way you built it before, a second time, and a third time.
If you could go back to Gaza right now, what would you do?
Wadi: I returned to Gaza after the war and would like to express my condolences to the family of my close friend Hamed, who was martyred in this war. I want to see my brothers and their children and friends and see Gaza and see what happened after all this destruction. I want to share people’s sadness and memories of war, even if just a little. I want to be part of their suffering.
What did you think when you saw the horrifying footage of Yarmouk Stadium being destroyed by Israeli forces?
Wadi: Yarmouk Stadium is not the only facility destroyed. There are lots of mosques, churches, offices, hospitals, universities, and schools. Not even trees and stones were saved. I scored many goals in front of hundreds of cheering fans at Yarmouk Stadium. The sight of tanks circling the stadium is still fresh in my memory. There aren’t any phrases to explain its ugliness. But while these scenes are horrifying, they are not as horrifying as the images of child deaths and children being torn apart that we see every day. I can’t forget her even for a moment. They live inside me.
Can we forget about the war in Gaza when we step onto a soccer field?
Wadi: The war is affecting my family, friends, and people. My cousin died as a martyr. My best friend died a martyr. My adolescence recollections have been destroyed. This occupation destroyed all life in Gaza. Even if you survive this war, you will not be able to live a normal life. There are no job opportunities, no training, no offices, no markets in Gaza. They killed all life there. We cannot forget our suffering, but it gives us strength. You can see the ferocity of the (Palestinian) team on the field. It reflects the Palestinian character. As players, we are motivated to make people happy, even if only for a moment. We draw strength from the suffering and fortitude of people.