Text and photographs by Andrew McConnell
Under Israeli blockade, Gaza is often referred to as "the largest open-air prison on earth." Yet with access to the sea, this is a prison with a difference. With no recreational spaces to speak of in Gaza, the Mediterranean—alluring in spite of the sewage—is an immense source of release for the local population. In this context it is hardly surprising to find some here surfing upon the waves.
Surfing is still a fledgling sport in Gaza, and numbers are low because of a dearth of equipment in the territory. Of the 30 surfers now practicing the sport, 26 have their own surfboards, thanks mainly to the efforts of international donors. With large winter swells and softer summer waves hitting the 40-kilometer strip of land, many believe surfing, with more resources, could flourish in Gaza. For now the group is small, but they are some of the few who get to escape the confinement and find a semblance of freedom every time the waves come.
