Swimming classes have resumed in Gaza after a three-year hiatus caused by ongoing conflict, offering hundreds of children an opportunity to learn how to swim in five makeshift pools constructed from sandbags and rubble along the central Gaza coastline. These sessions provide a rare chance for boys and girls to reclaim moments of childhood in an environment marked by destruction, fear, and limited recreational options.
The pools were built by volunteers led by Amjed Tantesh, who founded Gaza’s first swimming academy over 20 years ago. With limited access to heavy machinery, the team manually moved tons of debris to form walls and deepen the water basins. Tarpaulins offer some relief from the intense Mediterranean sun. Free classes are held in the mornings specifically for children who have lost parents in recent Israeli strikes, while afternoons are open to all local children eager to swim and play in the water.
For many participants, swimming offers a physical and psychological respite from the harsh realities they face. A UN survey conducted in March indicated that 96% of children in Gaza felt that death was imminent, reflecting the widespread trauma experienced in the enclave. The children’s environment has been devastated by years of Israeli military operations; nearly 10% of the pre-war population was killed or injured, thousands remain trapped beneath rubble, and Gaza now reportedly has the highest concentration of child amputees worldwide. Additionally, last year’s siege induced famine, which has left many children with lasting mental and physical health problems. Formal education has been largely halted for three years due to widespread damage to school buildings.
Thirteen-year-old Alma Shabat, who lost her mother in an Israeli strike last May, described swimming as a temporary escape from constant worry. After three weeks of lessons, she said she no longer feared the sea and enjoyed making new friends. Another child, 10-year-old Maryam al-Musri, whose father was also killed in the war, expressed that swimming allowed her to breathe fresh air and momentarily forget the hardships endured in makeshift living conditions.
Tantesh’s commitment to swimming education stems from a personal and community tragedy. His older brother Bahjat, a karate champion and his first swimming instructor, was killed by an Israeli attack last year as they fled their home amid evacuation orders. Prior to 2023, Tantesh had established a network of pools, including a large one built from rubble after the 2014 bombings that once taught around 11,000 swimmers. These facilities were destroyed amid recent hostilities, and several swimmers and instructors were killed or injured.
The risks associated with open-sea swimming—ranging from strong waves and currents to jellyfish—make the new pools a critical safety improvement. Initially, parents were reluctant to enroll their children out of fear of the water, which had claimed numerous lives over the years. Tantesh hopes that expanding the program throughout the summer, pending additional funding for instructors and materials, will enable thousands more children to participate.
The revival of swimming lessons serves not only as a safety measure and recreational outlet but also as a symbolic act of resilience. For Tantesh, facilitating these classes has also been a process of personal healing and reclaiming hope amid loss, demonstrating the vital role of community initiatives in Gaza’s recovery efforts.