Palestinians find freedom in the surf of Gaza

Mohammed Abu Jayab feels alive while he's surfing the waves off the Gaza Strip, relishing the brief sense of freedom from the harsh realities of life under siege.

Abu Jayab, a 38-year-old lifeguard, taught himself to surf when he was young while hanging out on the beach with his friends who used pieces of wood as a board, despite the dangers.

And 20 or so years later, he still harbours dreams of taking part in an international competition.

"Surfing has been a hobby of mine since I was little. I learned from watching TV and I fell in love with it, although no-one in Gaza knows about the international standards involved," he told AFP. "When I surf, I feel free because the sea is the only means of escape for people from Gaza, with its difficult life, unemployment, poverty and the siege," he said, referring to the Israeli blockade which has been in place since 2007, holding around 1.5 million people prisoner inside the territory.

Dawn