Occupied Jerusalem, June 18 (SANA) Before the war, Mahmoud Jamal Abu Mazkour spent his days in the gym, training with the hope of one day representing Palestine in international bodybuilding competitions.
The 33-year-old athlete supported a family of three and pursued his sporting ambitions despite travel restrictions and the blockade on Gaza, which limited opportunities to compete abroad.
That life changed dramatically after the outbreak of war.
Forced to flee his home, Abu Mazkour sought shelter with relatives in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. On June 8, 2024, an Israeli strike hit a neighboring house near the place where he was staying.
The blast left him with life-changing injuries. One of his legs was amputated and the other suffered severe fractures. The attack also killed his sister and her children.
In the months that followed, Abu Mazkour underwent treatment in Gaza’s strained healthcare system, spending six months moving between hospitals and recovery centers.
“There were times when I felt trapped in a dark tunnel,” he said. “I thought my sporting career was over and that I would never return to the life I knew before.”
The physical injuries were compounded by grief and uncertainty. As he recovered, he faced the reality of learning to live with a prosthetic limb while coping with the loss of close family members.
Determined not to give up, Abu Mazkour eventually returned to training. But the road back has been far from easy.
The prosthetic leg available to him is not well suited to his condition and often causes pain during movement and exercise. Obtaining a more advanced replacement remains difficult because of limited resources and shortages of specialized medical equipment.
Each training session presents new challenges. Beyond the physical discomfort, daily life in Gaza remains difficult, with shortages of medical services, rehabilitation programs and other support needed by people living with disabilities.
The war has also reshaped his ambitions.
Before the war, Abu Mazkour dreamed of standing on international podiums. Today, he hopes to travel abroad to receive an advanced prosthetic limb that would allow him to move more freely and return to competitive sport.
“I used to dream of representing Palestine in championships,” he said. “Now I dream of getting a prosthetic limb that helps me continue my life and return to sport in a proper way.”
Despite everything he has endured, Abu Mazkour says he remains committed to moving forward.
“They took my leg, but they did not take my dream,” he said. “I will continue no matter how difficult the challenges are, because determination is stronger than any obstacle.”
His story reflects the experiences of many Palestinians in Gaza who have suffered amputations or permanent disabilities during the war. With medical services under strain and rehabilitation resources limited, many continue to face long and uncertain paths toward recovery and rebuilding their lives.
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