Dykes Against Airstrikes walk 26 miles - the length of the Gaza Strip

Over 130 people from a walking group made up of dykes (including trans+ folk) in the UK took part in a 26-mile hike - the length of the Gaza Strip - to raise funds for and awareness of Palestine and to "demonstrate the incomprehensible destruction caused by these attacks in such a small area of land".

The initiative, named Dykes Against Airstrikes, was organised in collaboration with Dykes Who Hike, a community group known for creating sober, outdoor spaces for queer women and trans+ folk. The hike took place simultaneously in Norwich, Manchester and Leeds, with participants walking for up to 12 hours.

The campaign aimed to raise £5,000 for Gaza Sunbirds, a Palestinian-led organisation originally founded as a para-cycling team for amputees. Since the escalation of violence, Gaza Sunbirds has pivoted to distributing food and essential supplies in areas unreachable by larger NGOs. To date, the group has delivered over $400,000 worth of aid.

Nic Mitchell and Lizzie Byrne, organisers of Dykes Who Hike Norwich, stated: “The utter destruction and devastation of the Gaza Strip and the killing of thousands of Palestinian civilians living there, conducted by the Israeli military, is a breach of international law. Through Dykes Against Airstrikes, we are committed to making a tangible difference by supporting Gaza Sunbirds distributing aid on the ground in Gaza.”

The hike’s symbolic distance – 26 miles – reflects the actual length of the Gaza Strip, a densely populated area now ranked the deadliest place in the world for children. According to UN reports, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, and the region faces famine due to aid blockades.

Participants were encouraged to either join the hike, donate, or share the fundraiser. At the time of writing, the campaign had already surpassed its initial goal, raising over £20,000.