[[{"content_id":"361282","domain_id":"0","lang_id":"en","portal_id":"2","owner_id":"114","user_id":"44","view_accesslevel_id":"0","edit_accesslevel_id":"0","delete_accesslevel_id":"0","editor_id":"44","content_title":"Occupied Gaza\u2019s First Woman Basketball Referee Hits The Court","content_number":"","content_date_event":"2021-10-19 14:18:34","content_summary":"At a recent basketball match in the Gaza Strip the spectators were transfixed, less so by the action on the court than the fact the referee was a young woman.","content_summary_fill":"1","content_body":"Amira Ismail, 23, who officiated the Gaza City-Nuseirat match, has been making history in the Israel-blockaded Palestinian enclave ruled by the Islamist group Hamas since 2007.   \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“Everyone looks at me in amazement on the basketball court, wondering, ‘who is she? Is she a foreigner or an Arab? What is she doing here?'” Ismail told AFP.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nHer passion for basketball motivated Ismail to seek a refereeing license from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which she earned three years ago after passing online exams.  \r\n \r\n\r\nBut due to social pressures, and then a long pause forced by the Covid-19 pandemic, Ismail had yet to officiate a match — until this year.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“This time around, I was determined to get out there and use my international license on the field, because I deserve it,” she said, clad in azure-colored sportswear that matched her eyes. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nSo far this year, Ismail, who works day shifts in a hospital after completing her bachelor’s degree in pharmacology, has refereed five men’s matches, each time attracting curious glances. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCrowd sizes are still limited due to pandemic-linked restrictions. But Ismail said she is bracing for the post-coronavirus world, when more people will attend games and more eyes will be on her.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThere are 15 FIBA-certified referees in Gaza, Ismail and 14 men, and they officiate the matches of the four women’s teams and 12 men’s teams.","content_html":"

Amira Ismail, 23, who officiated the Gaza City-Nuseirat match, has been making history in the Israel-blockaded Palestinian enclave ruled by the Islamist group Hamas since 2007.   <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“Everyone looks at me in amazement on the basketball court, wondering, ‘who is she? Is she a foreigner or an Arab? What is she doing here?'” Ismail told AFP<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Her passion for basketball motivated Ismail to seek a refereeing license from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which she earned three years ago after passing online exams.  <\/span>
\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

But due to social pressures, and then a long pause forced by the Covid-19 pandemic, Ismail had yet to officiate a match — until this year.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“This time around, I was determined to get out there and use my international license on the field, because I deserve it,” she said, clad in azure-colored sportswear that matched her eyes. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

So far this year, Ismail, who works day shifts in a hospital after completing her bachelor’s degree in pharmacology, has refereed five men’s matches, each time attracting curious glances. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Crowd sizes are still limited due to pandemic-linked restrictions. But Ismail said she is bracing for the post-coronavirus world, when more people will attend games and more eyes will be on her.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

There are 15 FIBA-certified referees in Gaza, Ismail and 14 men, and they officiate the matches of the four women’s teams and 12 men’s teams.<\/span><\/p>","content_source":"","content_url":"","content_columns":"0","content_date_start":"2021-10-19 14:18:34","content_date_finish":"2021-10-19 14:18:34","content_date_register":"2021-10-19 14:23:28","content_date_last_edit":"2021-10-19 14:25:08","content_show_img":"1","content_show_details":"0","content_show_related_img":"0","content_show_slider":"1","content_show_title_slider":"1","content_comment":"1","content_score":"0","content_recorded":"0","content_confirmed":"0","content_status":"1","content_kind":"0","old_id":"0","tag_id":null,"tag_word":null,"tag_service":null,"tag_total":null,"tag_soundex":null,"attach_token":"2848902308","attach_date_register":"2021-10-19 14:24:05","attach_id":"496041","attach_file_ext":"jpg","attach_file_header":"image\/jpeg","attach_img_type":"2","attach_img_width":"750","attach_img_height":"418","attach_file_media":"1","attach_show_watermark":"1","score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"visit_count":"637","visit_date_last":"2024-04-11 07:01:41","attach_title":"Occupied Gaza\u2019s First Woman Basketball Referee Hits The Court\n 2","node_title":"news,Sports,Latest news","ot_node_left_right":"[{\"node_id\":122, \"left\":2, \"right\":53},{\"node_id\":125, \"left\":7, \"right\":8},{\"node_id\":144, \"left\":49, \"right\":50}]"}]]