Today – amid a fragile ceasefire and the devastation of her country – she takes to the soccer field not only as a player, but also as a symbol of resilience and hope.
For Farah, football is more than just a game: it’s a new beginning, a way to reclaim one’s identity and a bridge to precious pre-war memories.
Never give up
“I came here to play sports to be like before and to recover memories. My message is: continue the journey, don’t give up. Don’t let anything get in your way. Despite your injury, you must insist on being like everyone else,” she said. PK Press Club.
Farah Youssef, member of the Palestinian national amputee football team, who is participating in the championship.
Farah is one of dozens of players who took part in the Hope Amputee Football Championship in Gaza, demonstrating that disability does not mean incapacity and that passion for sport can become a path to healing and empowerment.
The tournament was organized by the Palestinian Amputee Football Federation and hosted at the Ittihad Shabab Deir al-Balah club stadium.
Lost limbs, but good humor
It brought together players who lost limbs in the conflict and who continue to play with remarkable spirit and determination.
Our correspondent was at the stadium to capture the competitive atmosphere and inspiring scenes from the four-day championship that concluded last week.
The initiative is part of wider efforts to support those injured in conflict and encourage their inclusion in sport – despite the rubble and challenges around them.
As part of its mission, the association aims to integrate thousands of others injured during recent hostilities.
A missed opportunity for the World Cup
Captain Ali Abu Armanah, coach of the Palestinian national amputee football team, spoke about the team’s lost opportunity to qualify for the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Costa Rica.
“We launched this championship to rekindle hope after two years of war against our children and families in the Gaza Strip. At that very moment, we were supposed to be in Jakarta, Indonesia, to represent Palestine in the West Asia qualifiers, but the ongoing conflict and the closure of the border crossing prevented our participation.”
The Palestinian national team missed out on qualifying for next year’s FIFA World Cup by just one point, after drawing their final group stage match in June while the war was still raging.
Life on one leg
Mohammad Abu Jufail, a former footballer, lost his leg in the 2014 Gaza war. The physical and psychological challenges were immense, but he chose not to give up.
“I was playing football before my injury. After my leg was amputated, I stopped playing for about five months. Then the club I played for told me there was a special team for amputees. The beginnings were difficult, I had played with two legs, and now with just one, on crutches.
“We trained continuously for two years and met an amputee athlete from abroad who guided us. After that, we resumed our lives,” he said.
Call for greater support
Player Abdullah Abu Mukaimer highlighted the scale of the needs. “We are sending the message that we continue to contribute to football in Gaza, and that many new players are joining us. There are almost 60,000 amputees in Gaza after the war. We call on the relevant authorities to support amputee football as the numbers are extremely high.”
Espoir football championship for amputees in the Gaza Strip 2025.
6,000 amputations in two years
According to local health organizations in Gaza, more than 6,000 cases of limb amputation have been recorded over the past two years of conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, requiring urgent and long-term rehabilitation.
Children make up about 25 percent of all amputee cases, while women make up almost 13 percent.
Assistive devices remain in short supply, compounding the suffering of people with war-related disabilities.
