In the darkness of a market in the central Gaza Strip, where power outages are a part of daily life, a brightly lit screen showing a World Cup match holds everyone's gaze.
Dozens of men and boys stood transfixed as they watched Belgium play Egypt -- a much-anticipated fixture for Palestinian football fans eager to witness the prowess of their idol, Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah.
The 1-1 draw in Monday's match didn't dampen their spirits, with some fans climbing onto their friends' shoulders and waving huge Egyptian flags.
Smiles spread across the crowd gathered among the ruins of the Nuseirat neighourbood which, like the rest of the Gaza Strip, was devastated during the two-year war between Israel and Hamas.
"The World Cup is not a trivial event for Gazans," said Mustafa Siam, a member of the Palestinian Football ******* ociation (PFA), whose president was denied visas for the United States and Canada.
Dozens of men and boys stood transfixed as they watched Belgium play Egypt -- a much-anticipated fixture for Palestinian football fans eager to witness the prowess of their idol, Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah.
The 1-1 draw in Monday's match didn't dampen their spirits, with some fans climbing onto their friends' shoulders and waving huge Egyptian flags.
Smiles spread across the crowd gathered among the ruins of the Nuseirat neighourbood which, like the rest of the Gaza Strip, was devastated during the two-year war between Israel and Hamas.
"The World Cup is not a trivial event for Gazans," said Mustafa Siam, a member of the Palestinian Football ******* ociation (PFA), whose president was denied visas for the United States and Canada.
4 months ago
