Captain Salim Abu Jasser, coach and volleyball player at Jabalia Services Club, has revealed that the Israeli Defence Forces have deliberately destroyed all sports facilities and infrastructure in the North Gaza Governorate during their relentless military campaign, now in its 96th day.

Forced to flee Beit Hanoun three days ago, Abu Jasser has sought refuge in Gaza City amidst the suffocating siege imposed on northern Gaza. He recounted to Palestine Online the systematic targeting of stadiums and sports clubs, including the Jabalia Services Club, which was turned into a command centre for Israeli forces before its destruction.

Describing the dire conditions in northern Gaza, Abu Jasser painted a grim picture of life under siege. Families endure severe shortages of food and water, surviving on one meal a day to stretch dwindling supplies. Water is drawn perilously from the Kamal Adwan Hospital well, as relentless airstrikes and incendiary bombs make even the simplest movement life-threatening. Streets are deserted except for those risking their lives in search of essentials.

He also detailed the humiliation and inhumanity faced by those attempting to cross checkpoints. Elderly people, women, and children are subjected to degrading treatment, including arbitrary arrests, physical searches, and interrogations in degrading conditions. Many are forcibly stripped, assigned numbers, and transferred to unknown locations. Exhaustion takes its toll on the most vulnerable, with many collapsing under the strain of these brutal measures.

“The devastation in northern Gaza is unimaginable,” Abu Jasser lamented. “Homes, schools, hospitals, sports clubs, and every sign of life have been obliterated. Anyone who moves risks being shot. It feels as though the destruction is designed to prevent any chance of returning to our homes.”

Despite the overwhelming hardship, Abu Jasser clings to hope. He dreams of an end to the military operation and a return to the North Governorate, where life, he says, can truly be rebuilt.