In Gaza, some Palestinian children are finding respite from the harsh realities of life through breakdancing. As music plays in a refugee camp, boys and girls showcase their moves, kicking and spinning with intense focus. Two young girls grin at each other after nailing a tricky routine—a rare moment of catharsis amid the devastation.
Breakdancing in the Rubble
The children, some wearing sliders, dance next to mangled metal rods protruding from rubble and shattered concrete. The school, located in the Nuseirat refugee camp, a crowded area dating back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, offers training in breakdance, gymnastics, and contemporary dance.
Voices of the Dancers
“I come to this center because I discovered I have a talent for breakdancing, and I also come here to release the negative energy inside me and to enjoy,” said Habiba Abu Khater, a child aged between five and 14. She has been attending for four years and is proud of her progress from scratch.
Instructor Fayez Saraj noted that the school, established in 2004, helps children build self-confidence and improve mental health. “The movements help the child with psychological release, especially from the difficult situations we experienced during the years of war,” he said. “We have a significant role in moving them from an atmosphere of depression and frustration to one of joy.”
Context of Conflict
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed over 72,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, caused widespread destruction, and displaced most residents. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records considered reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, though it does not distinguish between civilians and militants.
Israel launched the offensive after Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023. While heavy fighting has mostly subsided since a fragile ceasefire on Oct. 10, deadly Israeli strikes have repeatedly disrupted the truce, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Palestinians in Gaza continue to face myriad daily struggles.
—Associated Press writer Mariam Fam in Winter Park, Florida, contributed to this report.
