Residents of the Gaza Strip are increasingly seeking relief from extreme heat by turning to the territory’s heavily polluted Mediterranean coastline, amid severe water shortages and cramped living conditions following years of conflict. Since the outbreak of fierce hostilities between Israel and Hamas two years ago, almost the entire population of Gaza—over two million people—has been displaced, now living mostly in tents and damaged buildings along the narrow coastal strip.

Wadie al-Ras, a 36-year-old displaced resident of Gaza City, described the tents as unbearable in the current heat. Temperatures range from 28 to 31 degrees Celsius in the mornings but inside the makeshift shelters, the temperature can feel significantly higher. “The only outlet in the Gaza Strip, from north to south, is the sea,” he said, referring to the coastal beach where many residents gather to cool off.

However, the sea itself offers little reprieve. It is heavily contaminated with sewage and waste, a consequence of widespread damage to Gaza’s infrastructure. Many water pumps have ceased functioning due to ongoing Israeli bombardment, while sewage stations, pumping facilities, and water treatment plants remain severely impaired, according to Husni Muhanna, a spokesperson for the Gaza municipality. This has led to the contamination of the coastal waters, forcing residents to use the unsafe sea water for bathing and washing clothes despite the health risks involved.

Shehab al-Suwaireki, a 36-year-old displaced father of six, explained the difficult predicament facing families. “We go in and wash (clothes) and bathe then we get out,” he said. “In any case, germs are getting to our bodies.” The lack of a steady supply of fresh water and the destruction of critical infrastructure have left many with no alternative but to rely on the polluted sea.

The humanitarian situation remains dire. Nahed Hamouda, 56, displaced from Jabalia in northern Gaza, described the tents as "like an oven" without electricity, fans, or running water. “Even the food is inedible,” he said, illustrating the daily hardships faced by displaced families.

The continued conflict has taken a heavy toll on Gaza’s population. According to health officials in the Hamas-run enclave, at least 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israeli assault. Although a truce was declared in October 2025, Israel has maintained periodic military strikes, citing the need to prevent imminent attacks by Hamas and other militant groups. Hamas has rejected calls to disarm in exchange for Israeli troop withdrawal.

Amid this protracted violence and infrastructure collapse, Gaza’s coastal beaches have become one of the few available spaces where residents can momentarily escape the suffocating conditions of the tents—even as they face the looming risks posed by the polluted environment.