The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has cancelled a sports marathon previously slated for 10 April in Gaza after the Hamas government, which runs the Palestinian strip, refused to let women to take part in the event.
“This disappointing decision follows discussions with the authorities in Gaza who have insisted that no women should participate,” the agency said in a statement on its website Tuesday.
UNRWA said, however, that participants who had planned to participate in the marathon can still come to Gaza as it prepares for other events and activities to be organized as soon as possible.
Hamas, on its part, expressed sorrow that the agency had to cancel the event.
It said in a brief statement it had informed UNRWA that the marathon could be organized but in line with restrictions related to "the customs and traditions of the Palestinian people."
Gaza has been under the control of Islamist Hamas since 2007, when the armed group took over the strip following its victory in the 2006 legislative elections, which its rival faction, Fatah, declined to recognize.
