# Impact of conflict on Gaza civilian life and rehabilitation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/impact-of-conflict-on-gaza-civilian-life-and-rehabilitation
> Updated: 2026-08-31T04:30:00.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 2.

In the Gaza Strip, swimming has emerged as a tool for psychological relief and rehabilitation for residents affected by the ongoing conflict. In Gaza City, lifeguards operate with limited equipment, such as a lack of watchtowers and rescue buoys, to monitor crowded beaches. The Gaza Municipality’s marine rescue department currently employs approximately 120 lifeguards, down from 140 prior to the war.

In Deir al-Balah, specialized programs aim to support the recovery of children who have lost limbs. Through partnerships like the one between the Al-Shifa Palestine Foundation and Tanzeef Swimming Academy, coaches work to help amputee children rebuild confidence. 

As the humanitarian crisis continues, swimming lessons have expanded through initiatives like the ‘Swimming Academy.’ Instructor Amdschad Tantisch and his colleagues have resumed providing free lessons to hundreds of children, helping those who have lost homes or been displaced find temporary relief. These lessons utilize makeshift pools constructed in the sea using sandbags and debris. For children like eleven-year-old Mohammed al-Nadschi, the beach serves as a refuge from the hardships of war, providing moments of safety and happiness despite the sport’s inability to erase the consequences of the conflict.

While a ceasefire has been in place since October 2025, the region remains unstable. Deadly confrontations and attacks continue, with both sides accusing the other of violations. Israel maintains control over more than half of the Gaza Strip, while Hamas has re-established control in the remaining areas.

## Claims

- Amdschad Tantisch states that sport cannot erase the consequences of war but can provide children with moments of safety and happiness. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Hundreds of children in the Gaza Strip have learned to swim since training resumed this summer. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The Swimming Academy uses provisional pools in the sea created with sandbags and debris. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- More than 73,400 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Hamas and other extremist groups killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- More than 21,000 children and adolescents have died according to UN figures. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Gaza Strip children receive free swimming lessons as refuge

Swimming instructors in the Gaza Strip have resumed free lessons for hundreds of children, using makeshift sea pools to provide a sense of normalcy and refuge amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gaza-strip-swimming-lessons-resume-for-children-amid-humanitarian-crisis

### 2026-08-28: Gaza residents use swimming for relief and rehabilitation

Lifeguards in Gaza manage crowded beaches with depleted resources, while swimming programs in Deir al-Balah provide psychological support and physical training for children who have lost limbs in the war.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gaza-residents-use-swimming-for-relief-and-rehabilitation

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Cite as: Impact of conflict on Gaza civilian life and rehabilitation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/impact-of-conflict-on-gaza-civilian-life-and-rehabilitation