Photos show soccer’s return to Gaza as amputees and local teams play on improvised field

JABALIA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s main soccer stadium was leveled during the Israel-Hamas war and it now serves as a tent camp for displaced families.

In the Jabalia camp, however, the Palestinian Football Federation has carved out a new space for the game. They have cleared rubble, laid down worn artificial turf and erected a fence beside the remains of destroyed buildings.

Palestinian amputees trained on the improvised field on Wednesday and on Saturday, two local teams faced off in a game on the same ground.

Despite widespread destruction from the war and a fragile ceasefire, many here are reclaiming fragments of ordinary life, including soccer.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Palestinians watch a soccer match between Al-Ahly Club and Gaza Sports Club at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian players of Gaza Sports Club and Al-Ahly Club take part in a soccer match at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

A Palestinian player of Gaza Sports Club, right, controls the ball during a soccer match with Al-Ahly Club at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian amputee soccer players train on a newly built field in Gaza City, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

A Palestinian goalkeeper of Al-Ahly Club saves a shot by Gaza Sports Club's player, center, during a soccer match at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian amputee soccer players train on a newly built field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli army bombardments during the Israel-Hamas war, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian children watch amputee soccer players training on a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli army bombardments during the Israel-Hamas war, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

A Palestinian player of Gaza Sports Club, left, controls the ball during a soccer match with Al-Ahly Club at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian players of Gaza Sports Club, top center, and Al-Ahly Club, left, vie for the ball during a soccer match at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian players of Al-Ahly Club warm up before a soccer match with Gaza Sports Club at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian players of Gaza Sports Club and Al-Ahly Club take part in a soccer match at a newly constructed field surrounded by buildings destroyed in Israeli ground and air operations, in Gaza City, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Casey Wasserman, the chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, is selling his eponymous talent agency in the wake of the release of emails between himself and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Wasserman's emails with Maxwell were revealed by his appearance in recently released government files on Jeffrey Epstein. Wasserman, whose agency represents some of the top pop music artists in the world, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

The recently released documents revealed that in 2003 he swapped flirtatious emails with Maxwell, who would years later be accused of helping Epstein recruit and sexually abuse his victims. Wasserman said in a Friday evening memo to his staff that he has begun the process of selling the company, according to a company spokesperson who provided the memo to The Associated Press.

Wasserman's memo to staff said that he felt he had become a distraction to the company's work.

“During this time, Mike Watts will assume day-to-day control of the business while I devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city,” the memo stated.

The memo arrived days after the LA28 board's executive committee met to discuss Wasserman's appearance in the Epstein files. The committee said it and an outside legal firm conducted a review of Wasserman's interactions with Epstein and Maxwell with Wasserman's full cooperation.

The committee said in a statement: “We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented.” The statement also said Wasserman “should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful games.”

Wasserman has said previously that he flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein’s private plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation in 2002. Exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell in the files include Wasserman telling Maxwell: “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?”

His agency, also called Wasserman, has lost clients over the Maxwell emails. Singer Chappell Roan and retired U.S. women's soccer legend Abby Wambach are among them.

Wasserman said in his memo to staff that his interactions with Maxwell and Epstein were limited and he regrets the emails.

Whittle reported from Portland, Maine.

FILE - Casey Wasserman, Chairman of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games speaks during an IOC meeting ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)