Before long the members of Bar Palestine had transformed themselves into street athletes with sufficient suppleness, strength and stamina to turn the wreckage of Gaza City into their gymcompetitions and events.
Bar Palestine, a group of Gaza City fitness enthusiasts, go through their street workout among the rubble of buildings destroyed in last summer’s 50-day onslaught by Israel.
Bar Palestine members work out outside as all of Gaza City’s gyms were destroyed in last summer’s war.
Palestinian Bakr al-Makadmeh, of Bar Palestine group, suspends during street exercises on the coast of Gaza City on August 3. Street workout, which is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Street workout is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
After discovering the team on Facebook, photographer Mohammed Abed followed Bar Palestine through the ruins of Al Shujaieh, an eastern suburb of Gaza City that used to be one of its most overcrowded and poorest before it was razed to the ground during the Israeli Defence Force’s intensive bombardment.
In Gaza, street workout comes with an added dimension as it also became a way for the team to reclaim their city, even if it is in ruins.
Palestinian Mahmoud Nasman, of team Bar Palestine, suspends during street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3.
Before long the members of Bar Palestine had transformed themselves into street athletes with sufficient suppleness, strength and stamina to turn the wreckage of Gaza City into their gymcompetitions and events.
Bar Palestine, a group of Gaza City fitness enthusiasts, go through their street workout among the rubble of buildings destroyed in last summer’s 50-day onslaught by Israel.
Bar Palestine members work out outside as all of Gaza City’s gyms were destroyed in last summer’s war.
Palestinian Bakr al-Makadmeh, of Bar Palestine group, suspends during street exercises on the coast of Gaza City on August 3. Street workout, which is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Street workout is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
After discovering the team on Facebook, photographer Mohammed Abed followed Bar Palestine through the ruins of Al Shujaieh, an eastern suburb of Gaza City that used to be one of its most overcrowded and poorest before it was razed to the ground during the Israeli Defence Force’s intensive bombardment.
In Gaza, street workout comes with an added dimension as it also became a way for the team to reclaim their city, even if it is in ruins.
Palestinian Mahmoud Nasman, of team Bar Palestine, suspends during street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3.
Before long the members of Bar Palestine had transformed themselves into street athletes with sufficient suppleness, strength and stamina to turn the wreckage of Gaza City into their gymcompetitions and events.
Photographer Mohammed Abed follows some Gaza fitness enthusiasts on their extreme routine.
A year ago when Bakr Al Magadna decided to start exercising outdoors, he did so out of necessity, not choice. Last summer’s relentless, 50-day onslaught by Israel on Gaza destroyed all of the city’s gyms.
And so, inspired by online footage of “street workout” – combining gymnastics with callisthenics in simple exercises that use a person’s body weight to improve their fitness and strength – Mr Al Magadna headed for the beach.
Before long he was joined by three friends – Eyad Aayad, Mahmoud Nasman and Suleiman Taleb.
Together they formed the street workout team Bar Palestine, a group dedicated to leading a healthy lifestyle and inspiring others, despite the wreckage of war and the absence of equipment that most people might take for granted.
Before long the members of Bar Palestine had transformed themselves into street athletes with sufficient suppleness, strength and stamina to turn the wreckage of Gaza City into their gym.
In inner-city neighbourhoods across North America and Europe, street workout teams have proved that the sport is more than just the latest fitness fad by offering the young and disadvantaged the opportunity to channel their energies while avoiding a life of crime.
But in Gaza, street workout comes with an added dimension as it also became a way for the team to reclaim their city, even if it is in ruins.
After discovering the team on Facebook, photographer Mohammed Abed followed Bar Palestine through the ruins of Al Shujaieh, an eastern suburb of Gaza City that used to be one of its most overcrowded and poorest before it was razed to the ground during the Israeli Defence Force’s intensive bombardment.
Sixty people were killed in Al Shujaieh on a single day last year – July 20 – and by the time conflict ended on August 26, 2,256 Gazans had been killed and 17,125 wounded.
“As a civilian, I have covered three wars in Gaza and as a photographer that has been very difficult because there has been so much suffering,” Abed explains.
“So taking these pictures was very important for me for two reasons.
“Firstly, there is no suffering in them and I also hope they can show the rest of the world that, despite all of the conflict, there are still people in Gaza who want to lead a normal life, to exercise, to enjoy themselves, to play sport.”
nleech@thenational.ae
Scoreline
Switzerland 5
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), EsekaiaDranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), JaenBotes (Exiles), KristianStinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), EmosiVacanau (Harlequins), NikoVolavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), ThinusSteyn (Exiles)
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Jigra
Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Rated: 3.5/5
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
