PeacePlayers Middle East’s Journey of Connection in London and Belfast
Between 15-24 July 2026, seven Palestinian and Israeli girls from PeacePlayers Middle East travelled to London and Belfast for a life-changing exchange rooted in basketball. Alongside peers from PeacePlayers Northern Ireland, they built friendships, strengthened their voices as leaders, and deepened their understanding of what it means to build peace across lines of division.
Many youth, both from the Middle East and Northern Ireland, had already met at last year’s Friendship Games (founded by the Peskowitz Family) in Detroit, and were fast friends right from the start.
Among all of the unforgettable experiences the trip had to offer, what stayed with the girls most was getting to know each other on a deeper level: the candid conversations on the sidelines, the laughter in their dorm rooms. They went as a team and came back best friends.
London: Bonding Over Storytelling and Sightseeing
In London, the girls toured the House of Lords, meeting Baroness Hodgson and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who shared their own stories of leadership. The group also met with new and veteran PeacePlayers partners, such as Laureus, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the dialogue group Talk Matters, Spencer Gelding, and the Alliance for Middle East Peace, sharing their stories and message of hope, as well as discussing opportunities for collaboration. They also explored Shoreditch’s famous street art scene (they even tried their hand at graffiti!) and took in iconic sights like Buckingham Palace and the London Eye.
Belfast: Learning from History
Guided by PeacePlayers Northern Ireland’s Managing Director, Gareth Harper, and board members Trevor Ringland and Jim Fitzpatrick, the girls toured Belfast’s historic peace walls and other major landmarks in Northern Ireland’s decades-long conflict. Learning how Catholic and Protestant communities worked to overcome decades of division offered parallels and lessons in resilience for their own journey toward peace.
A particular highlight was an emotional dinner at the home of PeacePlayers Northern Ireland’s Chairman of the Board, Jim Fitzpatrick, where we were joined by Jim’s family, local board members, as well as Chairman of PeacePlayers’ global board of directors, Brian Kriftcher, and co-founder Brendan Tuohey. The room was filled with people of all ages who have devoted their lives to peace, and everyone shared their stories: the struggles, the immense hope. Not a dry eye was left in the room.
Guided by PeacePlayers Northern Ireland’s Managing Director, Gareth Harper, and board members Trevor Ringland and Jim Fitzpatrick, the girls toured Belfast’s historic peace walls and other major landmarks in Northern Ireland’s decades-long conflict. Learning how Catholic and Protestant communities worked to overcome decades of division offered parallels and lessons in resilience for their own journey toward peace.
Belfast: Building Bonds Through Sport
In Belfast, the girls joined PeacePlayers Northern Ireland’s Interface Games, a four-day celebration bringing together 160 youth from across Belfast. Using the Game of 3 Halves Model, Middle East participants joined local youth from different backgrounds to explore culture and identity by participating in three sports from Northern Ireland’s rich sporting heritage: football, Gaelic football and Rugby. The three sports, are complemented by a ‘fourth half’: interactive community relations conversations led by PeacePlayers facilitators.
Random Kindness Over a Plate of Middle Eastern Food
After seeking a Halal restaurant to accommodate our Muslim participants, we stumbled on Nora’s Palace in Belfast, and what was planned as a simple meal turned into an inspiring experience in its own right. Nora, the restaurant’s owner and namesake, escaped the civil war in Syria and came to Belfast as an asylum seeker 16 years ago. When Nora heard that we were a group of Palestinians and Israelis united in our love of basketball and belief in a more peaceful future, she was so moved that she hosted the entire group on the house. Later in the week, Nora visited us on the field, and even brought a cake as a send-off. Nora, your generosity of the spirit is a true inspiration to us. Thank you for making a wonderful trip even more memorable (and delicious!)
In The News
As part of the exchange, we were proud to be featured in the local news, including The Irish News, and News Letter.
