Climbing for Palestine

The global climbing community is hosting an international climb-a-thon with the goal of collectively reaching 768 km in vertical height—estimated length of the walls separating Israel from Palestine.

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In 2017, Adam Ondra—one of the world’s most famous professional rock climbers—visited Israel and occupied Palestine to climb some of the region’s most popular sites. The former world champion climbed the Nezer cave in northern Israel but also crossed the separation barrier to climb at Ein Fara near Ramallah, the heart of the nascent Palestinian climbing scene.

Ondra's journey sparked criticism within the global climbing community, renowned for its inclusivity towards women, queer individuals, and racial minorities. Some voiced disapproval of his decision to climb in Israel, highlighting his failure to engage with Palestinian climbers throughout his trip.

A notable moment captured during his excursion depicted Ondra and Israeli climber Ofer Blutrich standing by the Dead Sea, their backs marked with the words "Climb Free" drawn in mud. Interestingly, "Climb Free" was also the name Ondra gave to Israel's first 9a climbing route, as well as his subsequent YouTube episode chronicling his adventure, despite the poignant irony of Palestinians lacking the freedom to "climb free."

For Palestinians, the opportunity to access climbing sites and trails isn't a given right but rather a precarious and intricate process. Take, for instance, the climbing area Ein Fara, which Palestinians can only reach by trekking for 45 minutes around an illegal settlement. In contrast, Israelis and foreigners can simply drive through the settlement and park at the foot of the cliffs. Another climbing spot in the West Bank, Beit Ariye, lies within a settlement, thereby barring Palestinians from climbing there altogether.

Yet despite the numerous obstacles the occupation presents, several Palestinian organizations have continued to develop the sport in the West Bank, including the Palestine Climbing Association, which was officially recognized by the International Federation of Sport Climbing in February 2024.

Some Palestinians have even continued to climb in the West Bank despite the war raging since October 7 and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Members of the global climbing community are also campaigning in solidarity with Palestinians. Climbers for Palestine—a group of climbers from around the world who “feel passionately about standing up against the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza”—are organizing a global “climb-a-thon” at local gyms and crags to raise funds for Gaza.

The goal of the climb-a-thon is to collectively reach 768 km in vertical height—the current estimated length of both walls separating Gaza and the West Bank from Israel.

“Climbing is an act of freedom,” read the group’s statement of solidarity. “It's a way for us to embrace the serenity and rush of life. It's also an act of solidarity. We look after each other. We're inclusive. We're in awe of each others' strength.

“If there was ever a time for the humanity and solidarity of the global climbing community to shine, this is it. We must show up,” the statement continued.

Between April 12-May 5, climbers from around the world will log their individual climbs as part of the collective goal. You can also join an official meetup at one of the dozens of registered locations around the world, including in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Australia (my wife will be climbing at their local gym as part of the effort).

More information about the meetups can be found here.

Climbers for Palestine is also collecting donations and pledges, which will then be distributed to:

- Palestine Children's Relief Fund
- Medical Aid for Palestinians
- Rafah Tents

The group also has guidelines for engagement, including a code of conduct that states, “we are an anti-fascist, anti-racist community. We won’t tolerate any form of prejudice, whether that's antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, or misogyny.”

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For those who want to learn more about rock climbing in occupied Palestine, take a moment to watch the award-winning ‘Resistance Climbing’ by Palestinian-American director Andrew Bisharat, who visited the West Bank to explore his own roots and the power of climbing to transform lives, even in the most difficult of times.

The movie is available to screen here.

Now, go climbing.

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