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Life on the beaches of Tel Aviv and Gaza City – in pictures

This article is more than 2 years old

The beaches in Tel Aviv and Gaza City, just 70km (40 miles) apart, are different worlds on opposite sides of a century-old conflict, but on long summer days Israelis and Palestinians enjoy some of the same delights. Photographs by Oded Balilty in Tel Aviv and Khalil Hamra in Gaza City

by Associated Press
Palestinians enjoy a summer day on the beach of Gaza City, and beachgoers relax in Tel Aviv
  • Palestinians enjoy a summer day on the beach of Gaza City, and beachgoers relax in Tel Aviv

Palestinians ride horses on the beach of Gaza City, and Israelis play with their pets on a dog-friendly beach
  • Palestinians ride horses on the beach of Gaza City, and Israelis play with their pets on a dog-friendly beach

Palestinians cover a boy with sand on the beach of Gaza City, and Israelis do the same in Tel Aviv
  • Palestinians cover a boy with sand on the beach of Gaza City, and Israelis do the same in Tel Aviv

Palestinian women walk to the water’s edge on the beach of Gaza City, and two Israeli women take a selfie on the beach in Tel Aviv
  • Palestinian women walk to the water’s edge on the beach of Gaza City, and two Israeli women take a selfie on the beach in Tel Aviv

Palestinians jump into the water on the beach of Gaza City, and Israeli boys jump into the Mediterranean Sea on Tel Aviv’s beach
  • Palestinians jump into the water on the beach of Gaza City, and Israeli boys jump into the Mediterranean Sea on Tel Aviv’s beach

Lifeguard stations on the beaches in Gaza City and Tel Aviv
  • Lifeguard stations on the beaches in Gaza City and Tel Aviv

Men exercise on the beaches in Gaza City and Tel Aviv
  • Men exercise on the beaches in Gaza City and Tel Aviv

Three Palestinian men pose for a photograph on the beach of Gaza City, and three Israelis do the same on the beach in Tel Aviv
  • Three Palestinian men pose for a photograph on the beach of Gaza City, and three Israelis do the same on the beach in Tel Aviv

Natalia Shishova poses at the beach in Tel Aviv, and Ruba Shabit poses for a portrait on the beach of Gaza City
  • Natalia Shishova poses at the beach in Tel Aviv, and Ruba Shabit poses for a portrait on the beach of Gaza City

Children play on the beaches of Gaza City and Tel Aviv
  • Children play on the beaches of Gaza City and Tel Aviv

A Palestinian man wears a necklace with a map of Palestine on the beach of Gaza City, and an Israeli beach worker wears a necklace with the Star of David on the beachfront in Tel Aviv
  • A Palestinian man wears a necklace with a map of Palestine on the beach of Gaza City, and an Israeli beach worker wears a necklace with the Star of David on the beachfront in Tel Aviv

Palestinians play cards on the beach of Gaza City, and Israelis play chess on Tel Aviv’s beach
  • Palestinians play cards on the beach of Gaza City, and Israelis play chess on Tel Aviv’s beach

Palestinian children play in the water as the sun sets over the beach of Gaza City, and Israelis do the same at sunset in Tel Aviv
  • Palestinian children play in the water as the sun sets over the beach of Gaza City, and Israelis do the same at sunset in Tel Aviv

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