Images from The Middle East: Gaza Strip Features: Daily Life: Gaza Beach Club

The beach has long been an escape from the hardships of life in Gaza. Although the sea itself is treacherous, with fierce currants and undertows that pose a danger to all but the most skilled swimmers, Palestinians bring their families to the beach to play in the surf and on the beach. Beach clubs stretch from Beit Lahiya in the north to Dier el-Balah in the center of Gaza; south of that the beach becomes the property of the Gush Qatif settlement block.

Summer 2005