Amateur Israeli and Palestinian cyclists are now caught up in the war between Israel and Hamas, with deadly and devastating consequences.

The Israel Premier Tech professional team (owned by 2023 Gran Fondo World Champion Sylvan Adams) reported on their website of numerous Israeli amateur cyclists killed or injured by Hamas terrorists on Saturday.

”There was the triathlete who was murdered alongside his whole family, the mountain bikers ambushed and killed on their way to training [for the Epic Israel race] , the cyclists who hid for hours under bushes to escape the hovering terrorists, the 15-year-old rider who saved his dad’s life [from a hail of bullets] in a close escape, and others still missing, their fate unknown. And all the others who survived but will carry the scars of that Saturday morning to the end of their lives…. We are struggling to keep our sanity amidst all this, but we will get over it and will be back on our bikes sooner than later, said Rafi Shitrit, who is trying to cope with the deaths of friends.” Israel Premier Tech cycling team

In Gaza City the Palestinian Paralympic Gaza SunBirds cycling team, started by top cyclist Alaa al-Dali after loosing his leg when an Israel army sniper shot him in 2018, posted on Facebook of dire conditions for his teammates and citizens on the sixth day of Israel’s siege and massive aerial 6000 bomb assault on the city.

“We are not safe. There is no food. No Water. The darkness of the night is lit only by the fires of beasts that scream above us. You cannot use the actions of a few to dehumanise us with collective punishment. Days have passed and we have not yet heard from some para-cycling team members. Most Gazan’s are young like us and have never done anything to hurt anyone. 50% of our population is under the age of 18. The policies of war and siege got us here, repeating history by providing military aid to encourage onslaught will only bring more harm. We need the world to stand up for us now and demand an end to these genocidal policies and narratives about our people. Like you, we have dreams and ambitions. Despite all that has been taken from us, we approach every day with peace and love in our hearts. We have a vision of uniting our people through sports. We believe in a better tomorrow. This starts with real change, it starts with recognising our humanity. Recognise that we don’t deserve to die. If we cannot address the root causes nothing can be fixed. No more war. No more kidnapping our kids. No more siege. No more fear. The bloodshed will stop when we have our rights. Governments are perpetuating the same mistakes that lost us our legs. At the moment, I can’t even escape the impending fate that might fall upon us. It’s time for new approaches. End the siege. Free the people. We all deserve Life. Let’s live to ride another day.” Facebook/Gaza SunBirds Cycling Team

The unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza and Israel’s desire to win the war at all costs underscores the United Nations belief that, “There are no winners in war, only countless lives torn apart.”

Photo Credit: Gaza Sunbirds/Israel Premier Tech

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