[[{"content_id":361282,"content_number":0,"portal_id":2,"lang_id":"en","content_title":"Occupied Gaza’s First Woman Basketball Referee Hits The Court","content_rtitr":"","content_short_title":null,"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_date_start":"2021-10-19 14:18:34","content_date_event":"2021-10-19 14:18:34","content_date_event_start":null,"content_date_event_end":null,"content_show_title_slider":1,"content_date_last_edit":"2021-10-19 14:25:08","content_date_register":"2021-10-19 14:23:28","content_columns":0,"content_show_img":1,"content_show_details":0,"content_show_related_img":0,"content_show_slider":1,"content_comment":1,"content_score":0,"tag_id":0,"score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"uid":44,"eid":44,"attach_title":"Occupied Gaza’s First Woman Basketball Referee Hits The Court\n 2","attaches":[{"sizes":{"150":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202110\/496041_2848902308_150_84.webp","300":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202110\/496041_2848902308_300_167.webp","400":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202110\/496041_2848902308_400_223.webp","600":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202110\/496041_2848902308_600_334.webp","900":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202110\/496041_2848902308_750_418.jpg","1200":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202110\/496041_2848902308_750_418.jpg"},"ext":"jpg","file_media":1,"token":2848902308,"files":{"original":{"url":".\/file\/2\/attach\/202110\/496041_2848902308.jpg","width":750,"height":418,"size":0}}}]}]]