BETHLEHEM — Before sunrise on Friday, thousands of runners gathered in Bethlehem’s Manger Square beneath Palestinian flags and beside streets lined with murals, prison posters, and concrete barriers that have come to define life under occupation.
Then the race began.
The 10th Palestine International Marathon returned this week after a two-year interruption caused by Israel’s war on Gaza, drawing more than 13,000 participants worldwide in what organizers described as a collective act of endurance and solidarity. The event unfolded simultaneously in Bethlehem and central Gaza, where Palestinians gathered for smaller races despite the devastation left by months of war.
Thousands run Palestine Marathon under shadow of Israel’s war on Gaza became one of the most powerful visual moments to emerge from the occupied Palestinian territories this year, blending sport, grief, resistance, and survival into a single event.
The race in Bethlehem moved through refugee camps, narrow streets, Israeli military checkpoints, and stretches of the separation wall that cuts across parts of the occupied West Bank. Organizers said the marathon was designed not only as an athletic competition but also as a statement about Palestinian movement restrictions and national unity.
The route itself reflected those realities. Unlike most international marathons, the Palestine race cannot follow a straightforward uninterrupted course because of territorial fragmentation and military controls. For years, organizers have said the looping path through Bethlehem symbolizes the restrictions on Palestinian freedom of movement imposed across the occupied territories.
In Gaza, runners gathered near Nuseirat along roads scarred by Israeli bombardment. Images from the event showed children waving Palestinian flags, families cheering from damaged streets, and injured Palestinians participating despite severe physical trauma.
According to Associated Press reporting, 15 disabled Palestinians, including amputees, joined the race in Gaza, while women were back in Gaza’s race after years of restrictions and instability that had effectively halted female participation in marathon events inside the enclave.
The marathon returned at a time when the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to deepen amid widespread destruction, displacement, and food insecurity. International agencies have repeatedly warned that conditions across the enclave remain catastrophic as military operations and aid shortages continue.
The war in Gaza has disrupted nearly every aspect of Palestinian public life, from schools and hospitals to sporting and cultural events. The United Nations Development Programme says all 2.1 million residents of Gaza have been affected by the humanitarian crisis.
Among the participants in Bethlehem was runner Mohamad Al-Assi, a Palestinian runner released from Israeli prison after spending more than two years in administrative detention. After crossing the finish line near Manger Square, Al-Assi dedicated his race to Palestinian detainees still held inside Israeli prisons.
The issue of Palestinian prisoners remains one of the most emotionally charged subjects across Palestinian society, particularly as allegations surrounding detention conditions continue to emerge.
This week, reports detailing torture and sexual violence in Israeli detention renewed scrutiny on Israel’s prison system amid growing international criticism over detainee treatment.
Organizers said approximately 1,000 international athletes traveled to Bethlehem from dozens of countries, while thousands more joined virtually from abroad. Many runners carried Palestinian flags or wore keffiyehs while moving through streets lined with posters of Palestinians killed during the war.
The participation of international delegations highlighted growing global solidarity campaigns connected to Gaza and the broader Palestinian cause. According to organizers, international supporters joined the marathon from more than 70 countries.
As the race unfolded, the political backdrop remained unavoidable. Israeli military operations have intensified across both Gaza and parts of the occupied West Bank since the start of the war, with humanitarian organizations warning about deteriorating civilian conditions.
The conflict has also fueled accusations that the war is being sustained through continued Western military and diplomatic support. Critics argue the conflict has become a war sustained by US backing, a charge rejected by Washington and its allies.
Humanitarian groups say the systematic destruction of civilian life across Gaza has transformed the enclave into one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies.
International concern has also grown over attacks affecting relief infrastructure and medical workers. Reports indicate that aid workers have been killed during operations across Gaza, complicating already fragile humanitarian delivery systems.
The collapse of infrastructure and restrictions affecting aid operations across the enclave have further intensified warnings of famine and disease outbreaks.
Meanwhile, debates surrounding accountability continue to grow internationally. Several governments and human rights organizations have referenced proceedings at the international court examining allegations linked to the war.
According to multiple humanitarian assessments, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed or injured in Gaza since the conflict began, although casualty figures remain disputed and politically contentious.
Still, on Friday morning in Bethlehem and Gaza, the focus briefly shifted from diplomacy and military strategy to something more immediate: movement, survival, and visibility.
Runners crossed the finish line carrying Palestinian flags, embracing relatives, and posing for photographs beside walls covered in graffiti and memorial posters. Some participants cried. Others stood silently.
For many Palestinians, the marathon represented far more than sport. It was a public declaration that even amid war, displacement, checkpoints, and destruction, Palestinian life continues.
