Skateboards Are Banned in Gaza, So These Kids Skate on Rooftops of Ruined Buildings

For nearly a decade, the Gaza skate club has taught children to ride. Now, the war has made even that simple joy a daily struggle. Rajab al-Reefi, 30, leads the club. He still remembers the day its last skateboard broke. The thin maple layers, pressed into a curve, had carried child after child over the homemade ramps. Worn far beyond their normal lifespan, they finally cracked and snapped. The problem is not just wear and tear. Israel's siege of Gaza blocks a long list of ordinary goods from entering the territory. Israel says these items could be used by Hamas. Skateboards are on the banned list. So the club's work has become a constant hunt for boards and safe places to ride. With few open spaces left, children sometimes skate on the rooftops of damaged buildings. Al-Reefi says he teaches children to skate to "bring some joy." But keeping that joy alive takes everything he has.