Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a local bodybuilder continues to train and inspire his community during the current challenging times.
In 1989, young Sami Ibrahim Mahmoud, fueled by his love for sports and his homeland, started his challenging bodybuilding journey in Gaza.
For him, a strong body is the foundation of all sports and a source of mental strength. To this day, Mahmoud and many other bodybuilders in similar situations remain in a war-torn environment, losing weight due to food shortages, lacking proper training facilities, and facing unknown dangers just to train.
"No pitches or facilities are fit for training. That's the general situation now. In particular, you have to address the important role of nutrition. Where can you get proper nutrition under such conditions of famine, so that you can train and build your muscles. Personally, I lost weight, from 94 to 74 kilograms. That's a 20-kilo drop. Of course, I'm not the only one. I might still be better off than other players," Mahmoud said.
"You also face insecurity when leaving your home to go to training, and that's assuming you even can find a place to train and actually go to work out. So where can you find a safe place to train, without being bombed on your way, from above, beside, or even beneath?" he said.
However, Mahmoud has not given up. For many like him, they keep looking for light in the darkest tunnels, using bodybuilding to share strength and hope with others.
"We're not from another planet. The whole world talks about our strength and resilience, yet, we are flesh and blood, human beings with feelings – we have ambitions and hopes – we're not just numbers. But the one thing that's different is that we always look for light in every dark tunnel. We try as much as possible to turn this dark tunnel into a path toward success, excellence and progress. Up to now, despair hasn't found its way to us. Why? Because we believe this war won't last forever. This war will end, and we'll try as much as we can to light up a candle in the darkness," he said.
Lifting hope with strength, Gazan bodybuilder perseveres in war
Residents in the Iranian capital Tehran have been forced to abandon their homes due to the continuing aerial bombardment from U.S. and Israeli attacks, with many worried about the damaging impact a prolonged war could have on their families.
The U.S. and Israeli began striking Iran on Saturday, with the attacks killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials, and claiming the lives of more than 1,200 Iranians as of Thursday.
Iran has retaliated with a series of counterattacks against U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East region, as concerns now mount about the conflict widening.
Amid the intensifying attacks, residents of Tehran felt they were left with no choice but to get out of the capital as missiles continued to rain down.
Among them was a local woman named Nahid, who, after reaching a safer location, shared her experience of fleeing the city, describing the fear and urgency that drove her decision.
"We left Tehran because of the war. We heard that Israel had attacked, and there were loud sounds and heavy bombardments. We left the city because we have children, and we were afraid they might get hurt or become terrified," she said.
Despite the current crisis, Nahid also spoke of a sense of resilience which remains among the people.
"There was absolutely no shortage of food. The shops and chain stores were all open and fully stocked. There was no shortage of food supplies. But we say that now we must stand firm and respond to Israel and foreign countries, so that it won’t be the case that whenever they wish, they can attack our homeland. We must show greater endurance and patience for the sake of our country," she said.
Another resident, Ensie, also recalled the sense of horror as missiles struck near her home.
"It was one of the most terrifying memories of my life. Because of the intense anxiety, I just kept running and trying to escape. I was coughing and my heart was racing. I didn't know what had happened. I just couldn't stop running," she said.
Ensie also spoke of the far-reaching impacts of the war, highlighting its toll on both the economy and people's mental health.
"War is terrible in every way. Financially, in terms of economic losses, and psychologically, especially because of its effects on adults and children. These are impacts whose consequences might only appear years later. No one likes war," she said.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said on Thursday that 105 civilian sites and facilities in the country had been attacked by the U.S. and Israel since the outbreak of the conflict.
The IRCS also noted 1,332 attacks had been recorded at 636 locations across Iran since Saturday, with damage reported at 14 medical and pharmaceutical institutions.
Iranian families forced to evacuate Tehran as US-Israeli strikes continue
