Thousands Seen Running Marathon And Surfing In Gaza

Thousands of Palestinians were seen running through Gaza as part of the 10th Palestine International Marathon, while separate AP images showed surfers entering the Mediterranean off Gaza City during the ceasefire.

The scenes stand out despite repeated claims that Gaza has been reduced to total collapse and that ordinary public life in the Strip has largely ceased.

The Gaza race was held as part of the Palestine International Marathon, which took place simultaneously in Bethlehem and the Strip for the first time. The Gaza portion was a 5-kilometer race, not a full marathon. Reports differed on the number of participants, with some saying around 1,900 runners took part and others saying more than 2,500 ran in Gaza.

The event was sponsored by Egypt and held under the slogan “We Run for Freedom.” The broader Palestine International Marathon returned after a two-year suspension during the war, giving the Gaza race added visibility as it was held in parallel with the main event in Bethlehem.

AP reported that the Gaza race included thousands of runners, among them women and disabled participants. One 22-year-old woman who took part in the 5K said, “All of Gaza loves sports.”

The running event was followed by another set of images from Gaza’s coast. AP published photos of surfers riding waves off Gaza City, showing another form of public activity in an area usually described through scenes of destruction and crisis.

One Gaza surfer, Tahseen Abu Assi, told AP that surfboards have not entered the Strip since 2007, when Hamas took control of Gaza. He said he carried his board with him through every displacement during the war because he would not be able to replace it if it were damaged.

Abu Assi said surfing continued even during the fighting. “During the war, in the middle of the war, in the middle of the bombing and the planes above us, we used to go down and practice this sport,” he said.

Israel heavily restricted sea activity in Gaza after October 7, when Hamas terrorists also used seaborne attacks against Israeli civilians. Fishing and swimming remain prohibited in parts of the Strip, and entering the water remains risky because of Israeli patrols.

Abu Assi acknowledged the danger, but said the surfers were unwilling to stop. “There is fear, of course, but we can’t leave this sport,” he said.