Bodybuilding under rubble: Gaza gym rebuilds after the war

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In the basement of a damaged building in Khan Younis, young Palestinians have rebuilt a gym from the rubble left behind by Israel’s genocide on Gaza, creating a space for recovery, resilience, and hope. Restored by bodybuilders who trained there before the war, the gym now serves as a refuge for athletes seeking to rebuild their bodies after months of displacement, destruction, and food shortages. Ahmed Al-Majaydeh is among those returning to train. Like many young Gazans, he says the gym offers an escape from the psychological toll of war and a chance to regain the weight and strength lost during months of hardship. Surrounded by devastation, the gym has become, for local athletes, a symbol of perseverance — a place where Gazans are rebuilding both their bodies and their lives.