Gaza Marathon

The Gaza Marathon (Arabic: ماراثون غزة) was a marathon race in the Gaza Strip, Palestine organized by UNRWA to raise funds for the UNWRA Summer Games program for children in Gaza. In addition to the full marathon race (42.195 km, 26 miles 385 yards), there was also a half-marathon race and a 10 kilometers (6.21 mi) race, from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah in the south. Children run stages of between 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) to 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) in relays over the whole marathon course.

The event was held for the first time on May 5, 2011, attracting more than 1,500 participants living in Gaza.

On 1 March 2012, Gaza held its first and only international marathon, attracting nearly 2,200 children and more than 500 adult runners, including participants from countries such as the United States, Spain, and France, as well as several Olympic athletes. Women and girls also took part in the event, which included a final one-kilometre segment dedicated to participants with disabilities.

In 2013 the marathon was scheduled for April 10, but was cancelled following "the decision by the authorities in Gaza not to allow women to participate".