Freedom of Movement Marathon
Since 1948, Palestinians have been systematically displaced from their land. Gaza has been under Israeli blockade and control since 2007, and since 7 October 2023, Israel has escalated the violence into a horrific genocide. In the West Bank as well, Israel controls the daily lives of Palestinians through military occupation, illegal settlements, checkpoints, and the Apartheid Wall.
To better understand what it means to live under occupation AND how Palestinians resist through small and large acts, Viva Salud, as a Belgian NGO with three partners in Palestine, is organising a solidarity trip to the West Bank from 13 to 19 April 2026.
For one week, we will travel through the occupied West Bank, where we will meet Viva Salud’s partner organisations and learn more about their work. From our base in Ramallah, we will visit important cities such as Nablus, Hebron, and Bethlehem. Local guides will give us more insight into the reality of the illegal occupation by Israel and the impact on the daily lives of thousands of Palestinians.
A sporting and solidarity highlight of the trip will be on 17 April, when we run (or walk) the Freedom of Movement Marathon. During this run or walk, we will pass the illegal Apartheid Wall, Israeli checkpoints, two refugee camps, and the old streets of Bethlehem. Thus, the marathon highlights the restricted freedom of movement of Palestinians, a direct consequence of Israeli colonialism.
Participants may choose to walk 5 kilometres, or run 10 kilometres, 21 kilometres, or the full marathon.
What does your participation involve?
- A solidarity and sporting trip from 13 to 19 April 2026: We will visit Viva Salud partners Bisan and Health Work Committees (HWC), who are severely affected by Israeli repression. In the occupied West Bank, we will learn about their struggle for the right to health, experience the impact of the occupation and the genocide in Gaza, and emphasise the importance of international solidarity.
- Three preparatory sessions: Prior to the trip, you are expected to attend two information sessions: Saturday 28/02, Saturday 28/03, and Saturday 04/04, each from 10:00 to 13:00. During these two mandatory information sessions, you will be prepared for the trip. We will discuss the history of Palestine, the current political situation, travel planning, and security protocols. The sessions will take place at Viva Salud's offices, Haachtsesteenweg 53 in Brussels.
- Fundraising for our Palestinian partners: In the months before our departure, we will collectively raise a minimum of €500 per person. The trip and participation in the marathon are a good opportunity to raise awareness among friends, family, and colleagues about the situation in Palestine. We will guide you with tips and tricks for successful fundraising.
- Return meeting after the trip: After the trip, we count on your commitment to continue growing. Therefore, we will organise a return meeting where we will reflect together on what we have seen and learned, and translate those experiences into concrete actions for the right to health in Palestine. This will take place on Saturday 9 May, also from 10:00 to 13:00 at Viva Salud's offices.
Situation in Palestine and possible cancellation of the trip
Given the situation in Palestine, we can never guarantee 100% that the trip and marathon will take place. Viva Salud monitors the situation day by day with our Palestinian partners on the ground, who are best positioned to assess how everything is evolving, and will cancel or adjust the trip if necessary.
During the preparatory sessions we organise, we will also delve deeper into safety on the ground. We will prepare together on how to behave in certain situations, for example upon arrival at the airport. Additionally, Viva Salud takes no risks and the safety of participants always comes first.
Praktische informatie
We estimate the cost of this trip at £1,200. This includes the return flight (this is the largest cost and can significantly influence the total price of the trip), local transport, meals, accommodation for the week, and registration for the race.
The trip will take place from Monday, 13th April to Sunday, 19th April. The programme starts on Monday morning, so we recommend everyone to travel to Palestine already the weekend before. Sunday, 19th April, we have not scheduled any programme; this day is kept free for the return flight.
Registration and enquiries
As we have limited capacity, we ask you to include a short motivation letter of maximum 1 page when submitting your application. Briefly introduce yourself and tell us why you would like to join us in Palestine! We also expect participants to have a basic knowledge of English.
If you have any questions about the trip, please contact Victor directly on +32 474 733 585 or by email: victor@vivasalud.be.
Please also inform Victor before 1 February 2026 if you would like to register. We will confirm your participation by 5 February 2026 at the latest.
