In Pictures

Gaza teenager runs for Palestine

Inas Nofal aims to win medals for Palestine at international competitions, but training in Gaza presents a challenge.

Inas Nofal runs every day, and sometimes even twice a day, she says. Her coach, Sami Nateel al-Balad, buys all of her shoes. 'It's rare to find appropriate running shoes here, so as soon as I come across a pair, I buy them for her. To be professional is expensive and you need sponsors, but that isn't possible here.' [Lena Odgaard/Al Jazeera]

6 May 2016

Maghazi, Gaza – Tying the shoelaces of her bright green trainers, Inas Nofal prepares for her daily morning run. As Gaza’s first and only competitive female runner, the 15-year-old makes heads turn when she races down the streets.

“Running is my life,” Nofal told Al Jazeera. “Before I go to sleep, I think about which routes I’ll run the next day.”

Nofal started running last year with the support of a local coach, Sami Nateel al-Balad. Nofal’s father, Mahmoud, tirelessly follows the two in his car, ready to intervene if his daughter faces harassment from authorities or the community.

“Some people object to girls running and say bad things. It upsets me, but I try to hide it from Inas, because I don’t want it to discourage her from her dream,” Mahmoud said, noting he hopes she will help to change how society views girls and women.

Nofal hopes to win medals for Palestine at international competitions, but facilities for professional athletes are limited in Gaza. Three wars with Israel in less than a decade have caused major destruction in the small coastal enclave, leaving limited resources for sports and recreational activities.

Last month, Nofal suffered a further setback when she and dozens of other runners from Gaza were denied permits by Israel to travel to Bethlehem for the Palestine Marathon, which aims to shed light on Israeli-imposed restrictions on movement for Palestinians.