For surfers around the world, the ocean has long offered itself as a place of freedom and expanse. More than a mere hobby or sport, surfing is a portal to presence and connection with something greater amidst ordinary motions of life. It is no surprise then that surfers in the Gaza Strip, a community besieged by an ongoing genocidal war with no end in sight, are finding refuge and resilience amidst the waves.
The Gaza Strip, once home to a budding community of an estimated 30-40 surfers, now only has a handful who remain. Several were killed in the ongoing bombardment of the territory, with survivors often being seriously injured or displaced from their homes, now living in tents with no running water, electricity, or sewage systems.