Surfers in Gaza City continue to enter the Mediterranean and ride waves despite visible damage along the coast from the Israel-Hamas war. The photo gallery captures the contrast between daily life and the scars of conflict on the shoreline. Images were compiled and curated by AP photo editors, offering a visual record of resilience and the altered coastal landscape.
Against the Odds: Surfers Ride Waves Along Gaza City's War-Damaged Shoreline
Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab surfs on the beach of Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Surfers walk into the Mediterranean with their boards, warm up on the sand and ride waves off Gaza City's coast, where the shoreline still shows visible damage from the Israel-Hamas war. The scenes captured in this gallery highlight a striking contrast between moments of everyday life and the scars left by conflict along the water's edge.
Photographs show men carrying surfboards, stretching on the beach and catching waves as damaged buildings, eroded sand and other signs of destruction remain in the background. The images emphasize resilience and routine amid an environment altered by violence and its aftermath.
Photographs And Context
This collection was compiled and curated by AP photo editors and presents a series of images that document both the activity of local surfers and the visible impacts of the recent conflict on Gaza City's coastline. The photos offer visual testimony to how everyday activities persist where the landscape bears the marks of war.
Photo Gallery: A curated selection of images by AP photo editors showing surfers in Gaza City and the war-damaged shoreline.
Note: Captions and photographer credits accompany the original gallery provided by the Associated Press.
Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab, right, and Tahseen Abu Assi warm up before surfing on the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab, right, and Tahseen Abu Assi surf on the beach of Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab carries his surfing board as they enter the water along a damaged shoreline in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinian Tahseen Abu Assi surfs on the beach of Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab, front, and Tahseen Abu Assi carry their surfing boards as they enter the water along a damaged shoreline in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab, right, and Tahseen Abu Assi surf on the beach of Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab, front, and Tahseen Abu Assi carry their surfing boards as they enter the water along a damaged shoreline in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinian Tahseen Abu Assi surfs on the beach of Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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