Around 30 people gathered at Ses Figueretes Beach in Ibiza on Sunday afternoon to take part in the international Swim with Gaza 2026 initiative, a symbolic event expressing support for children in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict and Israeli military offensive.
The Ibiza event consisted of a collective swim and took place alongside similar actions held simultaneously in more than 70 cities worldwide, according to the organisers of the solidarity campaign.
The international mobilisation was coordinated with a children’s swimming festival in Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza. There, more than 3,000 young swimmers took to the water alongside instructors from the Tantish Swimming Academy.
The project is led by Amjed Tantish, a journalist and swimming instructor who launched the “Rejoice and Swimming Lessons” programme. According to the organisers, the initiative uses five natural swimming pools dug by the local community by hand along the seafront, after the destruction of the programme’s previous facilities on land.
Free swimming lessons for children
The free swimming courses have an estimated cost of €70 per child. According to the organisers, this funding covers 10 training sessions, as well as the salaries of swimming instructors, lifeguards and safety monitors responsible for supervising children in the water.
The programme is expected to continue for another three months, with the aim of providing children affected by the conflict with a safe space for psychological relief, recreation and emotional recovery.
Local organisers also highlight that funds raised through the global Swim with Gaza campaign help finance adapted swimming courses for children who have suffered amputations.
According to the organisations behind the initiative, thousands of children in Gaza have suffered amputations as a result of the bombing campaign. They therefore argue that projects offering recreation, emotional support and recovery activities for children are urgently needed.
The organisers have called on people in Ibiza to continue supporting the initiative financially through the official Swim with Gaza channels. Donations can be made through the official Swim with Gaza website, while updates on activities around the world are available via the campaign’s Instagram profile, @swimwithgaza2026.
