Skateboarding: Symbol of Palestinian resistance

SHAH ALAM - Tragic events unfolded in the West Bank as two young Palestinian skateborders lost their lives to Israeli gunfire.

Mohtade Salem, 17, was killed on Oct 12 at his hometown in Joyyous while trying to escape the gunfire and Hamza Taha died on Oct 25 during an Israeli military raid in Qalqilya.

Their deaths shed light on the ongoing struggles of Palestinians amidst violence and oppression in the occupied territories.

In Palestine, skateboarding has evolved into more than just a sport. It became a symbol of resistance against the Israeli occupation.

Hamza and Salem, like many others used their skateboards to also defy the challenges of everyday life under occupation.

Their tragic deaths served as a reminder of the constant dangers faced by young Palestinians in the conflict zones.

Documentary photography and skateborder Maen Hammad has been actively capturing Palestinian skatebording scenes for several years.

Born in Palestine and raised in the United States (US), Maen also captured the realities of life in the occupied West Bank since Oct 7, drawing attention to the challenges and tragedies faced by Palestinian skateboarders and their communities.

Maen also emphasised how skateboarding in Palestine was a form of escape, resistance and a way to counter the violence and occupation that permeated their lives.

More than 11,200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct 7.