Amid ongoing conflict and severe shortages in the Gaza Strip, a small group of local surfers continues to find refuge along the coastal waters of Gaza City, embracing the sport despite persistent risks and limited resources.

The surfers, including 23-year-old Tahseen Abu Assi and his companions, regularly carry their boards past bomb-damaged buildings and makeshift shelters to reach the sea. For them, surfing is more than a recreational activity—it offers a brief escape from the harsh realities of life under constant threat.

“Surfing is indescribable. When you catch a wave and glide along it, that feeling can’t be put into words,” Abu Assi said, recounting how he learned the sport from his father. Despite the ongoing shelling and destruction, he and others maintain their commitment to surfing as a vital source of relief and normalcy.

A ceasefire, established in October after two years of intense warfare, has not fully ended violence in the area. Recent incidents underscore the dangers that remain at sea. In May, Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis treated two fishermen injured by naval gunfire, while Gazan security sources reported three additional fishermen wounded near Gaza City’s coast. Abu Assi acknowledged the precarious environment, noting that explosions and shells remain a constant threat.

The war, coupled with strict import restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities, has severely limited access to necessary surfing equipment. Nineteen-year-old surfer Abdel Rahim Al-Ustadh highlighted the scarcity of basic supplies, explaining that surf wax is unavailable in Gaza, forcing them to substitute candle wax to maintain grip on their boards. Preserving surfboards is crucial; many are decades old and cherished as precious assets. Losing or having a board confiscated could jeopardize their ability to continue surfing.

The conflict has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure and displaced much of its population, forcing hundreds of thousands into temporary tents and shelters. This has taken a toll on local surfing communities as well. Eighteen-year-old Khalil Abu Jiyab said that before the war, Gaza had a team of 17 surfers, but now only three remain active due to the scarcity of equipment and other challenges.

Despite these hardships, Abu Jiyab remains hopeful for the future. Having surfed for 13 years, he dreams of one day competing internationally outside Gaza. “There’s nothing in Gaza you can really look forward to except the sea,” he said. “The only outlet in Gaza is the sea; without it, life would have vanished long ago.”

For these surfers, the waves offer a rare sense of freedom and continuity amid the ongoing turmoil engulfing their homeland.