Gaza Skate Team Brings Joy Amidst the Rubble

posted on: Aug 13, 2025

By: Ramsey Zeidan / Arab America Contributing Writer

“Despite the immense pain, I always try to fly in the sky of my city, though it has been torn apart by destruction. Yet, she will remain beautiful—no matter what.”

– Rajab Al-Reefi in an Instagram caption

In the midst of indescribable horror, a group of skaters in Gaza defy all odds to keep their dream alive. The Gaza Skate Team invites children and adults alike to find solace in skating. Rajab Al-Reefi, a Gazan native, founded the team in 2015 after discovering his love for skating. As he describes it, skateboarding gave him a sense of freedom akin to “a breath of fresh air”. So, how does the Gaza Skate Team find this freedom, and what can skating accomplish around rubble?

“We Won’t Stop”

The motto of the Gaza Skate Team is “We won’t stop”, and rightfully so. The mission of the team is utterly crucial to maintaining whatever morale the children of Gaza have left. Rajab’s bravery and willingness to sacrifice and spread hope in his community gives the motto much more weight.

Members of the Gaza Skate Team, Mohammed al-Sawalhe and Mustafa Sarhan, recount their search for equipment. “We tour the markets looking for second-hand stuff. We collect it and we make it fit for play,” said Mohammed al-Sawalhe. “I try to change their thinking and turn it from thinking about the blockade, borders, and death, to thinking about sport…” 

What Rajab, Mohammed, Mustafa, and the brave souls leading the team all want for the kids is peace. The liberation of skateboarding and refining something they love keeps them grounded, despite Gaza’s struggle. Moreover, understanding the reliance on the team to entertain and inspire in dark times must come with immense pressure. Thankfully, like the rest of Gaza, they persevere. What started as a team of 20 youths expanded to a project larger than life, powered by the motto.

Keeping Culture Alive

In an interview with Toby Brockelbank of Nexus Magazine, Rajab describes what it’s like to keep skating alive. He discusses his love for Tony Hawk and his favorite tricks, but what makes this interview so profound is the resilience Rajab demonstrates.

The ongoing genocide hasn’t just threatened homes, it threatened the Skate Team’s way of life. As Rajab puts it, “I love skating on ramps, but in Gaza, we’re forced to skate in the streets and on the rubble of our homes.” Nothing comes in or out of Gaza since 2023, and heavy restrictions were imposed even before that. Obtaining more skateboards is nearly impossible, and protective equipment is hard to come by.

“I love skating on ramps, but in Gaza, we’re forced to skate in the streets and on the rubble of our homes”

There are two skate parks in Gaza: one at Gaza Port, and one in the far north of Gaza. Sadly, they were destroyed by an infrastructure project and the destructive genocide respectively. The lack of equipment, suitable ramps, safety gear, and boards makes skating difficult. In fact, Rajab reports risking his life to ensure people in South Gaza have skateboards. Survival is on the front of Gazans’ mind, which unfortunately leaves little time for skating. Nonetheless, when Gaza’s youth find the time, it’s a break in the chaos; a way to catch up with friends, if just for a moment.

Finding Joy in the Rubble

Thanks to Rajab’s continued efforts, the number of skaters in Gaza has grown massively in 10 years. He hosts classes for children using only four skateboards, motivating people in his community to skate. Non Governmental Organizations and names like SkatePal have collaborated with the Gaza Skate Team, signaling a big leap forward. The team’s journey has been wholly documented on Instagram in the hopes it would bring attention to their plight. Even when taking videos atop collapsed buildings, Rajab and his friends still keep a smile on their faces.

During times where protest seems useless and the world’s collective outrage is not enough, it’s important to have hope. If the children of Gaza can find a sliver of happiness in skating, we have an obligation to keep fighting for them. Skaters in Gaza and beyond all recall the feeling of freedom when they pick up a skateboard. It seems true freedom comes from self-discovery, regardless of the constraints of occupation.

The team hopes that one day, when Gaza sees freedom, skaters from around the world will come to see what they’ve built. Donate to the Rajab Al-Reefi and the Gaza Skate Team’s GoFundMe here. Support Rajab in these tough times by following the team’s Instagram at @gaza_skate_team.

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