
From the West Bank to the NCAA: Palestinian brothers chase basketball dreams
Two brothers from the West Bank have relocated to Minnesota, where they balance college and high‑school basketball while aiming to showcase Palestine’s emerging talent.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning West Bank, Palestine across Soccer, Football, Basketball.

Two brothers from the West Bank have relocated to Minnesota, where they balance college and high‑school basketball while aiming to showcase Palestine’s emerging talent.

In the occupied West Bank, football is more than recreation; it is a contested arena where Palestinian identity and Israeli occupation collide, highlighted by FIFA’s recognition of a Zionist‑run “Palestine” team and the threatened demolition of a local pitch.

In Gaza, where power and internet are scarce, supporters defy danger to cheer Spain's victory, underscoring a deep solidarity with the Spanish team's stance against Israel.

At a modest field in northern New Jersey, a youth soccer academy founded by a former West Bank teen serves as a sanctuary for children affected by the Gaza war, drawing inspiration from Spanish striker Lamine Yamal’s public solidarity.

The conflict in Gaza has frozen the Palestinian football league for nearly three years, leaving players like Mahdi Hijazi without income and forcing many to seek low‑paid work, yet grassroots initiatives and the women's national team illustrate a path forward.

The head of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, is stranded in Mexico City awaiting a U.S. visa for the 2026 World Cup, a request caught in a broader crackdown on Palestinian passport holders and a dispute over Israeli settlement teams.

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, is stuck in Mexico City waiting for a U.S. visa to attend the 2026 World Cup, a situation that reflects wider visa curbs on Palestinian officials and rising criticism of Israeli policies.

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, is stranded in Mexico City awaiting a US visa for the 2026 World Cup, criticizing Washington's tightening visa policy and highlighting the destruction of sports facilities in Gaza.

As the FIFA World Cup draws near, Palestinian youths turn to soccer to escape daily pressures, navigating security challenges while fostering community and resilience.

As the FIFA World Cup kicks off, Palestinian youth in the occupied West Bank find refuge in soccer, navigating settler tensions, security checkpoints and empty stadiums to keep the sport alive.

The FIFA World Cup captures the imagination of Palestinians in the West Bank, where the game offers an escape from daily pressures, even as league matches are halted and settlers interfere with play.

As the FIFA World Cup begins, Palestinians in the West Bank find soccer both a passion and a struggle, using the sport to carve out moments of normalcy, hope and resistance.

Two Palestinian female internationals were taken into custody this week, joining a growing list of detained women that includes cancer patients, minors and pregnant individuals, prompting calls for international intervention.

Israeli authorities have extended the detention of Rand Halawani, a Palestinian women's soccer player, while broader arrests of athletes and students prompt condemnation from religious, academic and human‑rights groups.

Israeli authorities have prolonged the custody of Rand Halawani, a forward for the Palestinian women’s national team, while the Palestinian Football Association and several institutions condemn the arrests of Natalie Abu Diyeh and other young women in the West Bank.