- Title: Gaza surfers welcome New Year in Santa costume
- Date: 1st January 2023
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 29, 2022) (REUTERS) GAZA SURFERS DRESSED AS SANTA CLAUSE PERFORMING AT GAZA SHORES TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SURFER ON HIS BOARD WEARING SANTA CLAUSE BOAT RAISING PALESTINIAN FLAG WHILE PULLING SURFERS WEARING SANTA CLAUSE SURFERS ON BOARDS PERFORMING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SURFER, MOHAMMED GHANNAM, SAYING: "This event, surfing, is to celebrate New year 2023 , we hope it will bring good things and happiness to everyone." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING BY BEACH TO WATCH SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF PALESTINIAN SAILING AND ROWING FEDERATION, KHALDUN ABU SALIM, SAYING: "This event was organised by the Palestinian Sailing and Rowing Federation under the Palestinian Olympic Committee. Our aim in this event is to honour the Christian community who celebrate the Christmas and our second message to focus on one of the most important water sports in Gaza which is surfing despite the lack of resources, equipment, and the blockade. However, we insisted to do this event with the least resources." SURFERS ON THEIR BOARDS PERFORMING GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 29,2022) (REUTERS) (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING SURFERS WEARING SANTA AND PERFORMING ON THEIR BOARDS GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 29,2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SURFERS IN THEIR SANTA OUTFIT, TOWED BEHIND BOAT GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 29,2022) (REUTERS) (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING SANTA SURFER ON BOARD DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING SURFERS IN SANTA OUTFITS, TOWED BEHIND BOAT
- Embargoed: 15th January 2023 07:30
- Keywords: Gaza Palestinians new year surfers
- Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Occupied Territory
- Topics: Middle East,Sport,Surfing
- Reuters ID: LVA001969531122022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Gaza surfers dressed in Santa Clause outfits enjoyed a day of aquatic fun to mark the end of the year on Thursday (December 29)
The Santa surfers were towed by speedboats for a festive surfing in the beach of Gaza.
With Gaza's land borders tightly controlled by neighbouring Israel and Egypt, the seaside is a precious resource for people looking to relax and escape their day-to-day stresses.
The event, which marks the end of the 2022, aimed to send a message to the world that Gaza deserves love, coexistence and life, explained a statement by the Palestinian Sailing and Rowing Federation, as the President Khaldun Abu Salim, added that the event was held in honour of the Christian community’s celebration of Christmas.
"Our second message to focus on one of the most important water sports in Gaza which is surfing despite the lack of resources, equipment, and the blockade. However, we insisted to do this event with the least resources," he said.
Obtaining boards and other equipment such as wetsuits is made difficult by Israeli restrictions aimed at limiting the import of anything that could be used for military purposes, although an Israeli military spokeswoman said there should be no problem about bringing in purely sporting equipment.
(Production: Arafat Barbakh, Mohammed Salem, Roleen Tafakji) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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