Gaza marathon cancelled after ban on women runners

Hamas said having women in the annual event, scheduled for April 10, contravened Islamic tradition even though dozens of Palestinian schoolgirls had started the two previous marathons.

No running: The Hamas movement has banned women from participating in the marathon saying it was against Islamic tradition. Representation Pic/Getty Images

"This disappointing decision follows discussions with the authorities in Gaza, who have insisted that no women should participate," the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which sponsors the race, said in a statement.

This year's field of 1,500 schoolchildren and 800 adults was to have included a record number of women - 260 Palestinians and 119 foreigners, UNRWA said.

The children's participation is symbolic - they begin the race but run only a few hundred metres, while the adults do the full 42 km (26 miles).

"The marathon was an annual event to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and to raise funds for summer camps organised by UNRWA which serve at least 250,000 schoolchildren," said Adnan Abu Hasna, the agency's media adviser in Gaza.u00a0

385 The number of women who had signed up for the marathon