Palestine Marathon Returns After Two Years
Mohamad Al-Assi was released from Israeli detention six months ago.
Mohamad Al-Assi ran in Bethlehem. He wore Nikes and breathed hard as he passed graffiti.
The marathon route went along the wall between Israel and the West Bank.
People from other countries ran too, to show support for Palestinians.
The Palestine Marathon happened for the first time in three years.
Many events in the West Bank were cancelled because of the war.
Runners in Bethlehem can dream of freedom.
Mohamad Al-Assi was in prison for over two years. He was very thin when he came out.
He started training in December and ran 100 km in the first month.
Al-Assi jogs in the morning in a refugee camp.
The main difficulties are cars and Israeli security forces.
He had to stop training because of military operations.
Al-Assi felt hopeless when he couldn't train.
Running where roads are blocked
Israel's wall and checkpoints limit the course.
Runners can't do a full marathon without hitting a checkpoint.
The course went through refugee camps and a farming town.
The race shows the restrictions Palestinians face.
Checkpoints disrupt daily life in the West Bank.
In the Palestine Marathon, 'hitting the wall' means something different.
The atmosphere in Bethlehem was celebratory.
Crowds cheered runners near the Church of the Nativity.
In Gaza, disabled people and others ran a 2K and 5K.
Women were allowed to participate, unlike in 2013.
A woman named Haya Alnaji ran in the 5K.
Gazans love sports.
Rebuilding body and spirit
Thousands of athletes competed in front of the Church of the Nativity.
Al-Assi was arrested in 2023 and imprisoned without charge.
He was sentenced for transferring money to suspicious entities.
Palestinians say donations are often mistaken for militant funding.
In Israeli prisons, detainees often go hungry.
Al-Assi lost weight and endurance in prison.
Running a marathon is a mental and physical battle.
Al-Assi had to regain his physical fitness and mental strength.
He had to overcome the emotional trauma of prison.
Al-Assi finished second in the marathon and thanked God.
He dedicated his run to Palestinians still in detention.
AP
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