In Gaza, the local skateboarding community is struggling to sustain its activities amid ongoing conflict and severe restrictions on supplies. Rajab al Reefi, a 27-year-old skateboarder and youth mentor, described how the war and blockade have devastated their efforts to nurture the sport and provide children with a sense of normalcy.

Al Reefi’s day typically begins early, collecting water amid shortages caused by a halt in supply trucks near the border with Israel. He lives just 30 meters from the so-called "yellow line," a frontline controlled by Israeli forces. He has shifted from full-time skateboarding work to freelance photography to support his family amid the crisis, supplementing his income by raising awareness of his community's situation on social media.

Before the escalation of hostilities, al Reefi’s work focused heavily on training children in skateboarding. However, the conflict destroyed much of their equipment and play areas. Many skateboards were lost when homes where they were stored were bombed. The community’s resilience led them to salvage and repair boards wherever possible, often digging through rubble at great personal risk, including exposure to unexploded ordnance.

“We searched with our bare hands,” al Reefi said, referring to efforts to recover boards from destroyed houses. “Now we have a few repaired ones, but originally, the war left us hopeless when our last board broke.”

The physical infrastructure that supported skateboarding has also been hit hard. A skate park constructed with help from international partners was demolished to make way for displaced people’s tents. Training now takes place in remaining open spaces such as the YMCA courtyard, the seaport area, and even rooftops of damaged buildings.

Despite these challenges, al Reefi continues to organize practice sessions for children, focusing on simple moves meant to bring some joy amid hardship. He emphasized the psychological importance of skateboarding for children affected by conflict, particularly as a means of helping them release trauma and negative emotions.

He lamented the difficulty in obtaining even basic skateboarding materials under current conditions. “In 2026, it is astonishing that we cannot bring in a simple wooden skateboard — something that harms no one and could bring happiness to hundreds of children,” he said.

Nights in Gaza remain tense due to frequent airstrikes, and al Reefi described the anxiety that keeps his family awake. He tries to reassure his children, telling them that the immediate area is safe while managing his own stress.

His goal remains clear: to keep skateboarding alive in Gaza despite the obstacles, preserving a vital outlet for children amid one of the world’s most protracted conflicts.