I can breathe again': Israel's Zikim beach open for first time since 7 October attack

"From the clean soft sands of Zikim beach or its sky-blue and turquoise waters, where on Thursday waves gently lapped against the thighs of cheery middle-aged women, one can see a different world. Looking past the tall iron fence that marks the end of the beach, the outlines of what is left of Gaza's Beit Lahia resort are clearly visible less than two miles south down the coast as are the watchful Israeli destroyers out to sea."

"On 7 October 2023, Hamas gunmen used speedboats to land on Zikim with the goal of capturing the nearby military training base. In the ensuing violence, 17 civilians were killed on the beach, including fishers, teenagers on a camping trip and a group that had held a beach party the previous night. The beach and its burnt-out showers, shelters and lifeguard tower, were closed off to the public by the Israeli military."

Zikim beach sits with clean sands separated by a tall iron fence from the ruined Beit Lahia resort two miles down the coast and with Israeli destroyers offshore. On 7 October 2023, Hamas gunmen landed on Zikim aiming to capture a nearby military training base; 17 civilians died on the beach, including fishers, teenagers and a group from a recent beach party. The beach was closed and its burnt-out showers, shelters and lifeguard tower cordoned by the military. Reconstruction began in March amid Israeli bombardment of Gaza. One bomb shelter on Zikim holds a shrine for Yulia Chaban and Abed Ziyadne. Regional council head Haim Revivo pressed for reopening and received word that the lockdown would be lifted for daytime access.

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