Gazans flock daily to the shores of the Gaza Strip as the beach is the only breathing space for the residents in the besieged enclave.

After authorities in Gaza declared the beach safe for swimming, free of pollution, in May, officials and government institutions warned more recently of an environmental disaster that could cause tourist buildings and archaeological sites located on the seashore to collapse. It could lead to material and human losses due to the erosion of the Gaza seashore over the past years. 

In light of the fast erosion, the most populated areas in the Gaza Strip are at risk, such as the ancient city of al-Balakhia in the northwest, al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City, the beaches of Deir al-Balah governorate in central Gaza, and some tourist hotels near the beach as well as the Swedish Village in southern Rafah in the south of the enclave. In previous years, the village, named after Swedish soldiers who were stationed there in the 1960s, was at risk of sinking, and the authorities had used simple resources to protect it, despite how difficult that task proved.

Khaled Haniyeh, resident of al-Shati camp, whose population is about 103,000, told Al-Monitor, “I am thinking of leaving the camp with my family. It is no longer safe, and there are ongoing warnings about houses collapsing. The camp has seen massive soil and shore erosion recently.”