BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) - Mohamad Al-Assi ran beneath the concrete wall as dawn broke over Bethlehem. His footsteps echoed on the gravel, his breath visible in the cool air as vibrant graffiti blurred past with each stride.
The route along the barrier separating Israel from the occupied West Bank formed part of the marathon course that Al-Assi and thousands of others participated in on Friday. This event allowed global participants to run in solidarity with Palestinians, while a shorter race occurred simultaneously in Gaza.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
The Palestine Marathon, held for the first time in three years, represented one of the first significant international events in the West Bank since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. Previous festivals and conferences that once attracted thousands have been curtailed or canceled due to the ongoing conflict and increased Israeli restrictions.For Al-Assi, 27, the marathon marked a pivotal moment, coming six months after his release from Israeli detention. Footage from the day of his release captured his frail appearance, a stark contrast to his once athletic physique following more than two-and-a-half years in prison.Since December, he has gradually increased his training regimen, logging 62 miles (100 kilometers) in his first month and reaching 135 miles (217 kilometers) by April, according to his Strava tracking account.Each morning, Al-Assi jogs after his mother wakes him in their home located in Dheisheh, a Palestinian refugee camp characterized by cinderblock homes adorned with graffiti."The main difficulties we face are the cars on the roads and the presence of Israeli security forces along the route where I train," Al-Assi noted.Military operations in the camp have forced him to halt training multiple times."I would return home feeling hopeless because I couldn't do what I had intended to do," he expressed.
Navigating Checkpoints and Challenges
In the West Bank, runners cannot complete a full marathon distance without encountering a checkpoint or military gate, necessitating a double loop on Friday's marathon course.The route took participants through the narrow streets of two Palestinian refugee camps and down to a farming town adjacent to Bethlehem, where fields are separated by a concrete wall, barbed wire, and surveillance cameras. The race concluded at Manger Square in Bethlehem.Organizers emphasized that the marathon seeks to draw attention to the restrictions imposed on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, where checkpoints disrupt daily commutes and available land for recreational activities is increasingly diminished by Israeli settlements."Marathon runners anywhere may 'hit a wall' under the physical and emotional strain of completing the 42-kilometer race course," they stated on the marathon's website. "But in the West Bank, runners literally hit the Wall."Despite the struggling economy in the West Bank and the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, the atmosphere in Bethlehem during the marathon was one of celebration. Crowds gathered near the Church of the Nativity to support the runners as they began and completed the race, accompanied by bagpipes and drumming that filled the streets.Meanwhile, in Nuseirat, Gaza, a 2K race attracted 15 disabled participants, including amputees, while thousands joined a 5K run. This marked a return for women to the race after a ban was lifted following the cancellation of a 2013 marathon due to restrictions on female participation.Haya Alnaji, a 22-year-old participant in the 5K, remarked that the turnout demonstrated the resilience of Gazans, who continue to strive for normalcy despite the challenges posed by ongoing conflict."All of Gaza loves sports," she asserted.
Overcoming Physical and Emotional Hurdles
Al-Assi was arrested in April 2023 and placed under administrative detention, a measure that permits Israel to detain individuals without charge for extended periods. Reports indicate that between 3,000 and 4,000 Palestinians are currently held under this system.In October 2023, he was sentenced for allegedly transferring funds to suspicious entities, a charge he refutes. Israel maintains strict oversight of monetary transfers, particularly to Gaza, due to concerns that such funds may support militant activities. However, Palestinians argue that legitimate donations often fall victim to this scrutiny. Israeli military and prison authorities did not respond to inquiries regarding Al-Assi's case.While incarcerated, Al-Assi and other detainees often faced inadequate nutrition, leading to significant weight loss that affected his physical condition after a decade of training."I have more muscle mass than fat, so when I lost weight, the loss came from my muscles rather than fat," he explained. "This had a major impact on my physical fitness."Regaining the mental strength necessary for marathon running was also a challenge."I was emotionally shattered after spending such a long period in prison," he admitted.Upon completing the marathon, Al-Assi collapsed to his knees, expressing gratitude and dedicating his run to Palestinians still imprisoned. "After 32 months in prison, Mohamad Al-Assi is first in his class!" he exclaimed, tears in his eyes, as he raised his hands skyward.
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