GAZA: Gaza's population are extremely passionate about the current FIFA World Cup, which is being staged in the Middle East for the first time, despite the harsh living conditions there.

40-year-old Omar Baalousha arrived early at Saad Saiel Public Hall to secure a front row seat for the matches that were broadcast on a large-screen television positioned in the middle of the room.
"Here, I could feel the full extent of the passion of other fans who react to each goal, as if I were in the stadiums in Qatar," the father of six said.

He also mentioned that many people watch the games in cafés and public spaces because of frequent electrical outages in Gazan homes and the high costs of sports channels.

People in Gaza have never been close to the World Cup because of Israel's harsh siege, which makes it unlikely for most Gazans to travel to Qatar for the World Cup.

However, watching sports is a rare pleasure that many Gazans cherish.

The Gazans' love of football has demonstrated that we have never lost our zest for life, according to Baalousha. "Such moments make us forget our harsh circumstances," he said.

Since the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) seized control of the Strip in 2007, Palestinians in Gaza have been subject to a strict Israeli siege.

Abu Mohammed al-Jaal has offered an alternative to the common practise of watching sporting events in coffee shops.

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