A Palestinian street vendor smiles at his customers as he sells vegetables near the beachfront at a tent camp for displaced people in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Photos in Gaza City, where the beach offers fleeting respite as war and famine grind on
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — On a darkened beach in Gaza City, the only light comes from small food stalls and flickering cellphones.
Families seek relief from the stifling daytime heat, and perhaps a glimpse of the life they used to know. Many have been displaced multiple times over nearly two years of war sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel.
Just a few kilometers (a few miles) away, Israeli forces are blowing up buildings in the opening stages of a plan to conquer the city. Israeli strikes could come at any time. Those enjoying the sea may soon be ordered to evacuate to sprawling tent camps further south.
Many Palestinians have lost everything in this war. They still have the sea, for now.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Palestinians spend time at the seafront next to a tent camp in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)Palestinian children ride a bicycle in an area near the beachfront at a tent camp for displaced people in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)A Palestinian boy looks at a street vendor cooking corn near the beachfront at a tent camp for displaced people in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)Palestinian youth check their phones as they stand on a street in the Gaza City, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)An illuminated food stand stands out as Palestinians cool off in the Mediterranean Sea at dusk near Gaza City’s port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)A Palestinian street vendor prepares corn for sale near the beachfront at a tent camp for displaced people in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)A Palestinian man lights a cigarette as a street vendor looks on at his stand near the beachfront at a tent camp for displaced people in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)A Palestinian man looks at his phone as he stands at the seafront next to a tent camp in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)Displaced Palestinians cool off in the Mediterranean Sea near the port of Gaza City, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)Palestinians fish at the seafront in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)A Palestinian man fries falafels near the beachfront at a tent camp for displaced people in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)Palestinian vendors talk as they gather at a food stand near the beachfront at a tent camp for displaced people in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)Palestinian children play at the seafront next to a tent camp in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)A Palestinian couple hold hands as they walk near the beachfront at a tent camp for displaced people in the Gaza City port, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)A Palestinian man looks at his phone as he sits next to a makeshift shop on a street in the Gaza City, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
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