By IANS,
Gaza : About 1,500 professional and amateur runners took part in the first-ever Gaza Marathon in a bid to raise fund for a UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees, Xinhua reported.
The marathon kicked off from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.
The UN Relief and Works Agency was aiming to raise $100,000 through this event for the Summer Games it conducts every year.
The UNRWA Summer Games is a large-scale recreational programme for the children of Gaza. Over 250,000 kids take part every year.
Hamas police escorted the foreign runners who participated in the marathon Thursday.
Palestinian athlete Nader al-Masri, who had taken part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, won the full-length race.
“It was a great race and my thanks go to the organisers of the event. This is the first marathon to be held in Palestine. I dedicate my victory to the Palestinian people,” al-Masri said.