Gaza’s surfers seek solace from war in the Mediterranean Sea

Surfers still ride the waves off Gaza despite the ever-present threat of becoming an Israeli military target.Carrying their boards past tents and bombed-out buildings, a group of Gaza surfers headed for the sea, seeking solace in the waves despite the risk of Israeli attacks.On the beach in Gaza City, the trio laid out their boards on the sand while they warmed up their limbs and readied their gear.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4World Cup: Mbappe leads France into crucial Iraq clash in Philadelphialist 2 of 4Salah scores against NZ as Egypt records historic win at World Cuplist 3 of 4‘I’m here’: Yamal scores, dazzles and embraces the spotlight in World Cup startlist 4 of 4VIDEO: Watch World Cup Day 11: Egypt’s first-ever win; Spain crushes Saudiend of listA few children splashed in the shallows as the surfers paddled out to sea, fighting the crashing waves.“This sport is indescribable. When you catch a wave, ride it, glide along it, that feeling can’t be put into words,” said 23-year-old Tahseen Abu Assi, who learned how to surf from his father.“I used to see him practising it at the beach with his father, and I watched and learned from them,” he told the AFP news agency.“We learned little by little, and even with the war, the shelling, and the destruction, we’re still continuing with this sport, because it lets us breathe and makes us feel safe.”A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas came into effect in Gaza in October, after Israel’s devastating two-year war on the enclave.But the tiny coastal territory remains gripped by bloodshed, with each side accusing the other of near-daily violations.Even out at sea, the violence persists.In mid-May, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving two fishermen who had been injured by Israeli naval gunfire near the beach in the southern Gaza Strip.A few days later, a Gaza security source reported that three fishermen were wounded by Israeli fire near the coast off Gaza City.