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Marathon Participation Breakdown
Participant statistics for the 10th Palestine International Marathon
Primary Sources
Palestine Marathon attracts thousands of runners - BBC
Thousands of people have taken part in the Palestine Marathon and Half Marathon which returned to the West Bank city of Bethlehem after a two-year pause because of restrictions over the Gaza War.The event, which attracted runners and spectators from across the West Bank and overseas, happened in conjunction with a race in Gaza, as a fragile ceasefire in the Palestinian Territory continues to hold.Wyre Davies reports from the event in Bethlehem.
Thousands run Palestine Marathon under shadow of Israel's war on Gaza ...
Marathon draws 13,000 runners globally to amplify unity and resilience amidst escalating violence in Gaza and West Bank.Hundreds of Palestinians and foreign runners in Manager Square at the start of the annual Palestine Marathon, in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank city of Bethlehem. [Hazem Bader/AFP]By AFP, Anadolu, AP and ReutersPublished On 8 May 2026The tenth Palestine International Marathon has been run in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, with a parallel race held in Gaza after a two-year hiatus caused by Israel’s war on the Strip.The 42km race began at 6am local time (03:00 GMT) on Friday, with thousands of Palestinian and international runners gathering at the traditional starting point, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.Marathon coordinator Itidal Abdul Ghani said this year’s race carries a message of “the unity of the homeland,” with runners on both sides of the Israeli separation regime taking part in simultaneous events. A separate 5km race was organised in central Gaza, running from Wadi Gaza Bridge northwards.Organisers also staged a virtual marathon in several countries between 17 and 21 April, attracting more than 5,000 participants from 88 countries. Overall, the number of runners exceeded 13,000, including 2,523 in Gaza and about 1,000 foreign participants from 75 countries.The event featured multiple categories, including the full marathon, a 21km half marathon, a 10km race and a 5km family run, allowing participation by professional athletes, amateurs and families. It is organised by the Palestinian Higher Council for Youth and Sports, the Palestinian Olympic Committee and Bethlehem Municipality.This year’s race was against the backdrop of continued Israeli attacks on Gaza despite a “ceasefire,” and a surge in violence across the occupied West Bank since October 2023. Palestinian officials say at least 1,155 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 11,750 wounded in the West Bank since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, along with 22,000 arrests. In Gaza, at least 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 172,000 injured, according to local authorities.Running through Bethlehem’s streets and along routes hemmed in by checkpoints and the separation wall, many participants carried Palestinian flags or wore keffiyehs, framing the marathon as both a sporting event and an act of peaceful resistance and solidarity with Gaza.Palestinian runners take part in the 5-kilometre race at the Palestine Marathon along the co...
Palestine Marathon Unites Runners Despite Ongoing Conflict
Thousands participated in the tenth Palestine International Marathon held in Bethlehem, with a parallel race in Gaza. The event marked a return after a two-year hiatus caused by Israel's war on Gaza. Starting at the Church of the Nativity, the marathon attracted both Palestinian and international runners, showcasing a message of unity amidst adversity. According to Al Jazeera, this year's ...
Thousands join Palestine marathon as event resumes in Bethlehem ...
The Palestine International Marathon returned on Friday in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem after a two-year pause caused by the ongoing Gaza conflict, bringing together thousands of runners in a symbolic show of endurance and unity. Now in its 10th edition, the marathon began early in the morning outside the historic Church of the Nativity, drawing both Palestinian participants and ...
