Aram Sabbah: Reclaiming freedom on a skateboard

Aram Sabbah grew up in the West Bank; a childhood defined by restriction and uncertainty under military occupation. Checkpoints, soldiers, and the daily presence of violence shaped his early years, stripping away the freedoms many children take for granted. For many Palestinian children, these circumstances accelerate maturity, leaving little space for the carefree exploration of youth. Sabbah was no exception. 

At 14, he discovered skateboarding, a sport that was virtually unheard of in Palestine at the time. His initial exposure came through cartoons like The Simpsons and Jimmy Neutron. Encouraged by a friend’s enthusiasm, Sabbah decided to try it for himself, and the two shared a single board between them for months before he finally got his hands on his own. With no mentors or established community, Sabbah turned to YouTube, learning tricks and techniques through videos. What began as a shared ride between friends became a radical act—a way to resist the forces attempting to rob him and others of their youth. 

Skateboarding offered Sabbah a way to reconnect with the possibilities of childhood. The board, to him, was independence; a right that was otherwise constantly constrained under siege. The sport also mimicked the comfort of a familiar pattern; falling and getting back up mirrored the perseverance required to navigate life under occupation.“The joy and energy that I can harvest from the board keeps me sane,” Sabbah tells Dazed MENA.

In 2013, Sabbah met Charlie Davis, the founder of the UK-based NGL SkatePal, which aimed to introduce skateboarding to Palestinian youth. Despite being new to the sport himself, Sabbah volunteered to teach other children, witnessing firsthand how skateboarding fosters confidence and community. Even while pursuing his university education in Tunisia, Sabbah returned to Palestine every summer to work with SkatePal. By 2019, his dedication earned him the position of a full-time manager. “I’m fueled by seeing results that took years to show and seeing young skaters growing up and taking the chance and opportunity that I had, or even better,” he says. 

In this role, Sabbah has been instrumental in growing Palestine’s skateboarding scene. He’s led workshops, organised programs, and worked tirelessly to secure land for skateparks in the West Bank. These spaces have become vital for Palestinian youth, who often lack safe areas to play or express themselves. The skater began to envision skateparks as sanctuaries where young people could forge connections, reclaim their creativity, and imagine possibilities unbound by the confines of their immediate struggles. “I want to create a space for youth to grow up with more chances in life,” he shares. 

In July 2024, Sabbah represented Palestine at an Olympic skateboarding qualifier in Dubai. Being in the runnings alone was a pivotal moment—a declaration of Palestinian presence and resilience. Sporting a Keffiyeh and a T-shirt emblazoned with ‘Palestine,’ Sabbah leveraged the opportunity to share his people’s story and dismantle reductive perceptions of his people, who are often reduced to statistics. For Sabbah, hearing his name announced alongside ‘Palestine’ was a victory in itself, a powerful assertion of visibility.

The skater’s work also addresses the emotional weight of life under occupation. Sabbah is cognizant of how the emotional toll of violence and displacement can leave children feeling hopeless and disconnected. Skateboarding, he believes, offers a critical outlet, allowing kids to immerse themselves in the present moment and find joy in their accomplishments. Watching a child land their first trick, Sabbah has expressed, is a transformative experience that can replace despair with pride and purpose.

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in 2023 has only exacerbated issues facing Palestinian youth. While skateboarding typically provides relief, the scale of violence has made it difficult for many to revel in the sport without guilt. While Sabbah acknowledges this tension, he remains committed to showing Palestinians that joy and resistance can coexist, even feed each other, as he channels this belief into his current focus: completing a skatepark in Ramallah. “I hope to build a proper skatepark in the West Bank and rebuild skateparks in Gaza, to achieve a strong base for the youth to empower themselves and create a better future,” he affirms. Sabbah’s work gives Palestinian children a space where hope and light feel within reach again.