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Girls feel empowered at skate parks in Gaza

Gazan girls are encouraged to practice roller-skating and skateboarding at skate parks in the Gaza Strip, despite the lack of equipment and societal disapproval.
Palestinian youths ride their skateboards near the sea port of Gaza City, Gaza Strip, March 20, 2019.

Near the port of Gaza City, girls practice roller-skating and skateboarding at a skate park decorated with graffiti, in the hope of a promising future in the sport and to challenge the general belief that this sport is for boys only.

Rajab al-Rifi, the 25-year-old coach of the Gaza skate team, told Al-Monitor that skating is not well known as a sport in the Gaza Strip. "It was initially only popular among older youth, as it requires focus and a lot of practice," he said, adding, "The idea of setting up a team of girl skaters came up in 2019. The team consists of 12 girls, aged 3-12. [The idea] has been a qualitative leap that stopped this sport from being limited to boys in Gaza.”

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