Hastings Swims With Gaza

Hastings braves the waves

Hastings folk are made of tough stuff. Strong winds, crashing waves, brown sea (thanks Southern Water) wouldn’t deter our fearless swimmers. All were determined to take part in the day of solidarity: the global Swim With Gaza. We joined more than 30 groups throughout the world: from New Zealand to Seattle, Kuala Lumpa to Oaxaca in Maxico, Cape Town to Fountainstown in County Cork. And along the Sussex coastline – Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing. Laurie Holden writes.

At the centre of the day’s activities was the Swimming Festival in Gaza run by the Tantish Swimming Academy. The plan was to have 1,000 children swimming in the sea. We’re not too sure if this was achieved – how do you count 1,000 children? But the footage from Gaza showed huge number of youngsters enjoying the sea.

Charging into the sea

As part of the global day of solidarity, a fund was set up to give free swimming lessons for disadvantaged children in Gaza. In Hastings we have collected £123. The global fund has now reached £6,169. This will give lessons to more than 150 children, 10 lessons for each child, eight in a pool and two on the beach.

Global event: Swim With Gaza

The main aim of the day was always to show solidarity with the 2.2 million people of Gaza who have lived under Israeli siege for more than 16 years. While the day’s events were streamed throughout the world, they were especially picked up in Gaza and the rest of Palestine. One of the main media groups in Gaza shared the images coming from Hastings. At the same time, there were numerous media organisations from Arab nations and other developing countries in Gaza covering the festival. Nothing from any western media companies of course!

I Love Gaza flag

Paul O’Brien is the man who originally thought up the idea. These are his heartfelt words explaining his thinking behind the project: “To show the beauty in life of the people of Palestine. To show Palestinians that people throughout the world care deeply about them when the media leave after the last bomb drops. For those who survive their life goes on, but that much harder. The physical destruction and mental and physical scarring is of little interest to those in power.

“We used water and swimming to symbolise our shared humanity. It is harder to justify bombing people who live, breathe, learn, fall in love and swim with pleasure. For Israel, the best Palestinian is no Palestinian.”

Swimmers in action

Such was the enthusiasm and support for the day’s activities that it looks like Swim With Gaza might well become an annual event. So next August, make sure you have your swimming trunks at the ready!

In the run-up to the event in Hastings, we found a lot of interest in all matters relating to Gaza. So it’s fitting that Hastings and Rye Palestine Solidarity Campaign has organised a showing of the Canadian-Irish documentary, Gaza. The film shows both the effects of blockade and war, but also the incredible resolve of a people who want to lead ‘normal’ lives under extreme conditions. One of the directors of Gaza, Garry Keane, wrote: “In the film, we reveal the beauty, colour, vibrancy and human warmth on display in Gaza. It really is an extraordinary and unique place and sadly, because of the blockade, Gaza is never properly seen by the outside world, who are fed only a one-dimensional view.”

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