Gaza's beleaguered children are discovering a rare respite from war in the unlikeliest of places: makeshift sea pools constructed from sandbags and rubble along the central Gaza coast. The sight of hundreds of youngsters splashing, laughing and playing in these temporary oases is a poignant reminder that even in the midst of conflict, childhood must be preserved.
The initiative to restart swimming classes after a three-year hiatus has been driven by Amjed Tantesh, founder of Gaza's first swimming academy. With dozens of volunteers working tirelessly to create these havens, the project is a testament to human resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Using only their hands to move tonnes of rubble and fill sandbags, they have built walls and excavated sand to deepen the pools, providing some shade with tarpaulins from the intense Mediterranean sun.
For many of these children, who have endured years of profound trauma, the classes are a desperately needed mental and physical reprieve. A UN survey conducted in March revealed that a staggering 96% of children in Gaza felt death was imminent. The conflict has led to the loss and maiming of loved ones, with an estimated one in ten of the pre-war population killed or injured. Gaza also has the highest concentration of child amputees globally, and a UN commission report highlighted that disability among Palestinian children has become a defining demographic reality.
Beyond the immediate physical dangers, the impact on education has been severe, with no formal schooling available for three years and almost all school buildings damaged or destroyed. With nearly 700,000 school-age children in Gaza, only a small fraction have access to the makeshift tent schools run by aid groups. Survivors are often crammed into overcrowded and unsanitary tent camps, further exacerbating their living conditions. The human-made famine experienced last year is also expected to leave some children with lifelong mental and physical stunting.
The swimming lessons provide a crucial sense of hope and confidence. Alma Shabat, 13, who witnessed her mother's death in an Israeli strike in May, expressed how swimming allows her to "escape the war, and the worries I live with." Another participant, Laila Qahman, 14, who lost her seven-year-old brother, finds that swimming helps her "relax, cool down and forget about life in a tent." So far, 700 children have attended six weeks of classes, and Tantesh hopes to extend the programme to thousands more over the summer, pending crucial funding to cover teacher salaries and operational costs.