Surfers in war-torn Gaza find rare moments of joy taking to the waves

DEIR AL-BALAH, The Gaza Strip (AP) — Despite the dire humanitarian crisis across the Gaza Strip, where a fragile ceasefire remains in place, a handful of Palestinian surfers are finding joy — and relief — riding the waves of the territory’s Mediterranean coastal waters.

Only three or four men still surf due to a shortage of surfboards and the materials needed to fix damaged ones, said Tahseen Abu Assi, a surfer in Gaza City.

Abu Assi carried his surfboard with him through every displacement he endured during the two-year war because, he said, he wouldn't be able to replace it.

“If something happened to it I won’t be able to get another one,” he said, noting that no boards have entered the Palestinian territory since 2007. Surfboards are among sports equipment and other products that are banned by Israel.

On Tuesday, Abu Assi was among three surfers who took to the sea off the Gaza City port, including Khalil Abu Jiab, who road the high waves with his arms raised in joy.

After the war began, the Israeli military heavily restricted sea activity in Gaza, with the United Nations reporting that some fishermen were attacked onshore or at sea, including incidents involving fishermen using paddle boats.

Last year, Israel declared Gaza’s waters a “no-go zone,” banning fishing, swimming and sea access, making surfing risky.

Fishing and swimming are prohibited and dangerous in the waters off northern and southern Gaza. It's also risky to enter the waters off central Gaza, where Gaza City is located, due to Israeli patrols.

“There is fear of course, but we can’t leave this sport," Abu Assi said. "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.”

Gaza’s waves rarely rise high enough for surfing, so when they do, surfers drop everything to get in the water, he added.

Intense fighting across the enclave eased after a shaky ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, but deadly Israeli strikes have continued, with both Hamas and Israel accusing each other of violating the truce.

Israel’s war with Hamas broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, after the militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed 72,628 Palestinians and injured 172,520 others, according to the latest figures by Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Palestinians continue to struggle to secure food, clean water, medical care and shelter after the war caused widespread destruction, dismantled healthcare infrastructure and displaced most of the territory’s residents.

But for the territory's few surfers, there is relief, even if only fleeting, when they take to the waves.

“As soon as the sea gets high, you leave your work and leave your whole life,” Abu Assi said. "Work can be caught up on, as they say. We go practice this sport.”

A Palestinian jumps into the waters of the Mediterranean Sea as he surfs on the beach in Gaza City, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinians Khalil Abu Jayyab, left, and Abed Rahim Alostaz enter the waters of the Mediterranean Sea to surf at the beach in Gaza City, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian Tahseen Abu Assi rides a wave at a beach along the Mediterranean Sea in Gaza City, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab rides a wave at a beach along the Mediterranean Sea in Gaza City, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinians Tahseen Abu Assi, left, Khalil Abu Jayyab, center, and Abed Rahim Alostaz warm up before surfing on the beach in Gaza City, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

PHOENIX (AP) — Mark Vientos led off the 10th inning with a tiebreaking double after hitting a solo homer earlier in the game to help the New York Mets beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Friday night.

The last-place Mets (15-23) have won four of five and are 5-2 on a nine-game trip after losing 17 of 20 overall. They improved to 3-4 in extra innings this season.

Vientos smacked his double down the left-field line on the first pitch he saw from Kevin Ginkel (1-2) to score automatic runner Brett Baty from second base. Carson Benge followed with another RBI double for a 3-1 lead.

Tobias Myers worked the 10th for his first career save, striking out Ildemaro Vargas to end it.

Mets right-hander Nolan McLean gave up just three hits over six innings, walking one and striking out six. The 24-year-old rookie has been a bright spot this season with a 2.78 ERA over eight starts.

Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson allowed two hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the season. He struck out seven.

The Mets jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second on Vientos' fifth homer, but the D-backs evened the score in the bottom half when Nolan Arenado went deep.

Arizona loaded the bases against Luke Weaver in the seventh, but the right-hander coaxed a weak grounder from Geraldo Perdomo to end the threat. Weaver, Brooks Raley, Devin Williams (2-1) and Myers each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

Diamondbacks top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt singled in his first big league plate appearance after pinch hitting for Adrian Del Castillo in the eighth.

Second baseman Ketel Marte was a late scratch due to an illness.

Arizona has lost seven of eight.

The Diamondbacks send RHP Merrill Kelly (1-3, 9.95 ERA) to the mound Saturday, while the Mets counter with RHP Clay Holmes (4-2, 1.69).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas makes the off balance throw for an out on a ball hit by New York Mets' Carson Benge in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ryan Waldschmidt gets ready before a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryne Nelson throws against the New York Mets in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos (27) celebrates with Carson Benge (3) after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)