Courage amidst Conflict: The Brave Journey of PeacePlayers in the Middle East
.png?format=auto&width=320)
By Alexandra Flores I Laureus Sport for Good
When they were 10 and 11 years old, respectively, Duha a Palestinian girl from East Jerusalem and Neta, an Israeli girl from West Jerusalem, joined PeacePlayers Middle East’s basketball programme. Little did they think this would lead to friendships that would surpass their cultural barriers.
"Beyond the conflict, beyond basketball, for me PeacePlayers means family. It’s the deep connection that whether you agree or disagree, at the end it’s your family. You support and love each other no matter what," said Neta.
While tensions hit a new high between Israelis and Palestinians when war broke out following 7 October 2023, these women have continued to use basketball as a light of peace and hope.
Breaking the Separation Barrier with Basketball
Duha and Neta started as participants in the Laureus-funded PeacePlayers programme, each drawn to the game for different reasons. Now, they serve together as programme managers and coaches, using the sport to bridge divides, change perceptions and develop leaders among Palestinian and Israeli youth.
Duha started her journey in PeacePlayers when she saw the opportunity for girls to participate in sports: "I had no idea what basketball was, and I didn’t even consider meeting the ‘other side,'" she admitted.
Neta joined for the free T-shirts, but stayed as she saw something different on the court: "I discovered all of them playing basketball with determination, and I wanted to play like that too. This sport changed my life. We started as players, and now we work in the same organisation."
Through team huddles, passing drills and defensive manoeuvres, teamwork began to transcend the game itself.
While tensions hit a new high between Israelis and Palestinians when war broke out following 7 October 2023, these women have continued to use basketball as a light of peace and hope.
Breaking the Separation Barrier with Basketball
Duha and Neta started as participants in the Laureus-funded PeacePlayers programme, each drawn to the game for different reasons. Now, they serve together as programme managers and coaches, using the sport to bridge divides, change perceptions and develop leaders among Palestinian and Israeli youth.
Duha started her journey in PeacePlayers when she saw the opportunity for girls to participate in sports: "I had no idea what basketball was, and I didn’t even consider meeting the ‘other side,'" she admitted.
Neta joined for the free T-shirts, but stayed as she saw something different on the court: "I discovered all of them playing basketball with determination, and I wanted to play like that too. This sport changed my life. We started as players, and now we work in the same organisation."
Through team huddles, passing drills and defensive manoeuvres, teamwork began to transcend the game itself.
.png?format=auto&width=320)
“We were travelling all around Israel, speaking different languages - Hebrew, English, and Arabic. We were communicating with signs most of the time. But the best way we understood each other was from the eyes,” Neta described.
One of PeacePlayers Middle East’s initiatives is playing in the official Israeli league. They are one of the few intentionally integrated teams, with most being exclusively Israeli; so often times their opposing teams are playing with Palestinian peers for the first time.
During games, they endured verbal abuse and hostility from people who couldn’t understand why they were playing on the same team.
“We got a lot of negative reactions from players from other teams. But for me that was a sign we chose right, with peace and love we can achieve everything,” Neta added.
As they trained towards victories and faced defeats as a team, the basketball court became a place where there was peace, and the cultural barriers were broken.
One of PeacePlayers Middle East’s initiatives is playing in the official Israeli league. They are one of the few intentionally integrated teams, with most being exclusively Israeli; so often times their opposing teams are playing with Palestinian peers for the first time.
During games, they endured verbal abuse and hostility from people who couldn’t understand why they were playing on the same team.
“We got a lot of negative reactions from players from other teams. But for me that was a sign we chose right, with peace and love we can achieve everything,” Neta added.
As they trained towards victories and faced defeats as a team, the basketball court became a place where there was peace, and the cultural barriers were broken.
.png?format=auto&width=320)
Persevering Amidst Rising Tensions
Reflecting on the period following October 7th, Duha said: "This level of the conflict never happened before. It was intense in every way, for both Israelis and Palestinians."
Like all other joint Palestinian-Israeli initiatives, PeacePlayers initially suspended face-to-face activities.
"Some people thought we would shut down," Duha continued. "There was a lot of violence in the streets that made us feel more scared for our girls and their family’s safety."
To her surprise, the participants’ parents urged PeacePlayers to resume their activities. They recognised that the basketball court was a space of peace, normality and unity.
Duha said: "It was a surprise to see 95 of our girls back to the court, between Arabs and Israelis within two weeks."
As tensions between Israelis and Palestinians continued to build as the war went on, the participants and staff faced significant challenges.
"We’ve always kept a low profile, especially during the war, for the safety of our participants, who could be targeted," said Duha.
Reflecting on the period following October 7th, Duha said: "This level of the conflict never happened before. It was intense in every way, for both Israelis and Palestinians."
Like all other joint Palestinian-Israeli initiatives, PeacePlayers initially suspended face-to-face activities.
"Some people thought we would shut down," Duha continued. "There was a lot of violence in the streets that made us feel more scared for our girls and their family’s safety."
To her surprise, the participants’ parents urged PeacePlayers to resume their activities. They recognised that the basketball court was a space of peace, normality and unity.
Duha said: "It was a surprise to see 95 of our girls back to the court, between Arabs and Israelis within two weeks."
As tensions between Israelis and Palestinians continued to build as the war went on, the participants and staff faced significant challenges.
"We’ve always kept a low profile, especially during the war, for the safety of our participants, who could be targeted," said Duha.
.png?format=auto&width=320)
Living in parallel realities - one of war and destruction, and one of hope and understanding - Duha and Neta acknowledge the dangers of their involvement in a peace organisation, where working alongside people from the ‘opposing’ side could be seen as betrayal.
"There are people that are against what we do, that could harm us, either physically or reputationally,” Duha explained. “People can think ‘Why are you friends with the people who are killing your people?’ But it’s the same for both sides."
They know games might get cancelled as coaches from the opposite teams have demanded to know if ‘the Arab girls’ are coming before agreeing to play together on the same court.
Still, at PeacePlayers, those barriers don’t exist, and the players persevere.
"When you come to sessions, everything is normal. You see your friends, coaches and everything is fine. But when you step outside the gym, it’s completely the opposite," said Duha.
"There are people that are against what we do, that could harm us, either physically or reputationally,” Duha explained. “People can think ‘Why are you friends with the people who are killing your people?’ But it’s the same for both sides."
They know games might get cancelled as coaches from the opposite teams have demanded to know if ‘the Arab girls’ are coming before agreeing to play together on the same court.
Still, at PeacePlayers, those barriers don’t exist, and the players persevere.
"When you come to sessions, everything is normal. You see your friends, coaches and everything is fine. But when you step outside the gym, it’s completely the opposite," said Duha.
Unity Beyond the Court
Despite the dangers, Duha and Neta remain committed to creating an environment where young Palestinians and Israelis can meet to forge lasting bonds.
"We are proud to be a safe zone for them, joining Israel and Palestine girls through sport," said Duha.
"We've been at war for 75 years, and we've gotten nowhere. But what we are doing at PeacePlayers is different. We are a small group. But we are making a positive change. It works for us, and it works for our girls. I always say 'You only know your stars when it's dark.' We are the stars in this darkness."
PeacePlayers’ work in the Middle East is part of a global movement across four countries dealing with conflict and division, where basketball is used to bridge divides and develop young leaders.
"We’ve built trust in our communities over the years, and now, more than ever, we don’t want to lose this momentum. We are resilient, and we’ll do everything to keep the programme going," said Bella Kovner, managing director at PeacePlayers Middle East.
To learn more about PeacePlayers Middle East visit, https://peaceplayers.org/middle-east/
Despite the dangers, Duha and Neta remain committed to creating an environment where young Palestinians and Israelis can meet to forge lasting bonds.
"We are proud to be a safe zone for them, joining Israel and Palestine girls through sport," said Duha.
"We've been at war for 75 years, and we've gotten nowhere. But what we are doing at PeacePlayers is different. We are a small group. But we are making a positive change. It works for us, and it works for our girls. I always say 'You only know your stars when it's dark.' We are the stars in this darkness."
PeacePlayers’ work in the Middle East is part of a global movement across four countries dealing with conflict and division, where basketball is used to bridge divides and develop young leaders.
"We’ve built trust in our communities over the years, and now, more than ever, we don’t want to lose this momentum. We are resilient, and we’ll do everything to keep the programme going," said Bella Kovner, managing director at PeacePlayers Middle East.
To learn more about PeacePlayers Middle East visit, https://peaceplayers.org/middle-east/
