GAZA – Israel’s offensive in Gaza has destroyed most sports facilities and equipment, but that has not stopped boxing coach Osama Ayyub from training Palestinian girls in a tent camp that offers no protection from air strikes or artillery fire.

The boxing club where the girls once learned to punch, build their stamina and make friends has been destroyed.

The open sandy area between the tents where the displaced girls now practice has no protective equipment, rings or punching bags – a mattress and pillow suffice – but Mr. Ayoub says the training has helped them overcome their fear of war.

“They started coming out into the streets. They started coming out at night. Their personalities became much stronger and even their families saw that they were stronger,” he said.

It’s all about improvisation. A very young girl throws bare-handed punches and dodges imaginary punches. “Right,” the coach shouts, then raises her own fists for the girls to take turns throwing punches.

“They are determined, they are content, they are courageous. At first they were afraid of the war we are in, but they have benefited a lot thanks to boxing,” he said.

In Gaza, there were playgrounds, football, tennis, karate and other sports, but then terrible bombs began to fall from the sky and entire neighborhoods were destroyed.

Attempts to restart sports, even if played outdoors, are risky. On July 9, an Israeli missile hit a soccer match in a tent camp, killing at least 29 people, Palestinian officials said.

But boxers dream of international bouts overseas, far from Gaza, a small, densely populated settlement plagued by poverty and high unemployment long before the militant group Hamas launched its war by attacking Israel on October 7.

“I hope this war ends and our message on behalf of the girls of Gaza reaches everyone,” said Bilsan Ayoub, one of the boxers.