He trains on the streets or at Gaza's soccer stadium, whose main use has been for rallies by Palestinian factions rather than sporting events.
Chaotic Olympic torch relay called off in Paris
Despite the bitter dispute between President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction, which holds sway in the West Bank, and Hamas, which controls Gaza, the Palestinians will send a team representing both territories.
Masri, who finished runner-up in a half-marathon in Jordan in 2006, dreams of being the first Palestinian to bag an Olympic medal.
"When I began running in the streets of Beit Hanoun, people laughed at me saying I was thin and running would make me only thinner," Masri said. "Now they cheer as I pass them and I do not want to let them down."
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