"Abu Hasira" emerged from under the rubble.. to excel and shine with the referees

The story of Palestinian referee Mahmoud Abu Hasira, who survived an Israeli airstrike on his home in Gaza in November 2023, lost his daughter and family members, and suffered fractures, then returned months after treatment to officiate matches in the "Cup of a Thousand Martyrs" tournament, defying pain and destruction.

The story of Palestinian referee Mahmoud Abu Hasira, 45, who survived an Israeli airstrike that targeted his home in the port area west of Gaza City on November 4, 2023. The strike killed several family members, including one of his daughters, and seriously injured his father. Abu Hasira found himself under the rubble of his home with fractures to his ribcage and spine, and everyone believed he was martyred until news of his death spread. After months of treatment, Abu Hasira returned to the fields with his whistle to officiate matches in the "Cup of a Thousand Martyrs" tournament, which revived football activity in Gaza. He comes from a sports family; his father, Muhammad Abu Hasira, was a prominent goalkeeper in the 1970s and a coach for the national team's goalkeepers. Abu Hasira appeals to Arab and international sports institutions to support Palestinian athletes who have lost their homes and families.