Gazan Boxer Shams Al-Tayeb Carries the Weight of a Nation at World Championships

At just 24, Shams Al-Tayeb is all set to become the first Palestinian athlete boxer from Gaza to step into the ring at the World Boxing Championship (WBC). But for Tayeb, his fight is not limited to the ring but extends to his people's fight for freedom.

“My family is still there in Gaza. My brother, my sister, and her children are trapped. And my father is also there. He refuses to leave,” Tayeb said. 

He admitted that the news from Gaza weighs heavily on him, describing the “mental toll” of knowing his people are facing relentless bombardment with nowhere to seek refuge. “I feel like I’m living in two worlds at once. While I’m here focused on my competition, my thoughts are always with my people in Gaza, and I’m constantly looking for ways to help them,” he said. 

Like countless others who have faced unimaginable loss, Al-Tayeb was just nine when he lost his older brother to a devastating Israeli strike—an experience that left deep emotional scars. “Fifteen years ago, I had to collect my brother’s body from the streets after he was killed by Israeli forces,” he shared, a haunting memory that still resonates with him.

“I wake up feeling depressed and go to bed the same way, holding on to the hope that one day it will all come to an end,” he said. 

Tayeb's boxing journey began out of necessity. Once a businessman managing various companies and agencies, the harsh realities of life in the besieged Gaza Strip pushed him to pursue his passion for boxing as a way to support himself.

Raised in the Tal-Al Hawa neighborhood, the Gazan's boxer childhood was a blend of ordinary experiences and the stark challenges posed by a relentless siege. “Tal-Al Hawa used to be a tranquil area,” he reflected, adding that “it’s a small community near the coast, but now it’s just a wasteland—entirely in ruins.”

Tayeb reflected on how, as a child, he resolved to learn karate and boxing to protect himself and his family. “We were never taught to use a gun; everything we learned was for self-defense,” he said. This instinct for survival has remained with him, both in the ring and beyond.

The young Palestinian athlete boxer was slated to compete in the World Boxing Championships (WBC) in Turkey last year, but the event was called off due to the devastating earthquake that affected both Turkey and Syria. He sees his potential role in the WBC now as an opportunity to highlight the humanitarian crisis facing his homeland on a global stage.