Climbers Are Standing With Palestine

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Climbers for Palestine is embarking on a month-long global climb-a-thon and fundraiser in support of Palestinian rights, freedom, and dignity. Here’s why we’re doing it and why it matters.

First, a bit about the organization behind the climb-a-thon: Climbers for Palestine is an international organization of climbers committed to defending the rights of the Palestinian people. The group has chapters around the world, including in Brazil, Spain, and India, and throughout Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Miranda Oakley, a pro climber and founding member of Climbers for Palestine, observes that for the first time since she started climbing in 2000, she is seeing climbers use their courage within the realm of activism. “No cause could require more boldness or courage than speaking up for Palestine,” Oakley, who is Palestinian American, says. “Climbers for Palestine started as a small group of rock scramblers who were not afraid to stand up for Palestinian human rights and has grown into a worldwide movement.”

The leaders of Climbers for Palestine emphasize that they “oppose the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank committed with impunity by the State of Israel.” To raise awareness about the desperate situation in Gaza and the West Bank—as well as to raise funds for humanitarian aid—the group launched a global Climb the Wall campaign on May 30.

What Palestine and climbing have in common

What do Palestine and climbing have to do with each other? In light of the news we see on television, in the newspapers, and in our feeds, our goal is to create a space where climbers can meet with friends, learn more about Palestine, and advocate for peace and justice. We are also focused on raising funds for urgent aid in Gaza, as well as expanding climbing programs through the organization Wadi Climbing in the West Bank.

We undertake this advocacy work all while doing what we love and what brings us joy and freedom: climbing. “Climbing is all about freedom of movement,” says Oakley. She explains that Israel’s occupational forces have restricted the freedom of movement of Palestinians, who live under surveillance and military control. “We cannot enjoy our freedom here when we know that Palestinians don’t enjoy the same freedom. None of us are free until all of us are free.”

Oakley explains that climbing can be used as a way to fight injustice. “If each of us does whatever we can do, even the smallest actions, together we can make a difference,” she explains.

The 2025 Climb the Wall Campaign

This month, Climbers for Palestine is staging the second round of their global Climb the Wall initiative. From May 30 through June 30, climbers around the world are tracking their climbing distances. The goal is to collectively climb 477 miles (768 kilometers), equivalent to the length of the Israeli apartheid walls built within and around the occupied Palestinian territories.

It’s not too late to join in this movement—climbers can participate individually, as a group, through organized climbing gym events, and by climbing outdoors. One week into the campaign, we’ve already seen communities of climbers joining in at over 20 events worldwide, including at the epic Túnel de la Foixarda in Spain.

The inaugural round of this campaign took place last year. In 2024, more than 1,000 climbers from over 25 countries across six continents joined in Climb the Wall. We believe this was the largest collective climb-a-thon ever held. The global climbing community united with the Palestinian people to raise $136,123 for humanitarian aid in Gaza. During the three weeks of the climb-a-thon, climbers logged 366 km of ascents. This stands testament to the immensity of the oppressive curtain of steel and concrete imposed by Israel.

This year, the funds raised will support the following organizations:

• Palestinian Red Crescent Society
• Middle East Children’s Alliance
• Wadi Climbing Palestine: A Palestinian organization dedicated to developing climbing access in the West Bank. Wadi Climbing will use support from the 2025 Climb the Wall fundraiser for the following initiatives:
  • MHPSS Project: Promoting mental health and well-being among children and young people in refugee camps and marginalized areas of Palestine through climbing.
  • Children’s Climbing Team: This initiative develops a professional climbing team, starting with eight talented girls from the Al-Jalazon Refugee Camp. Selected from the MHPSS Project, these girls receive intensive training to help them reach their full potential as athletes.

How you can support Climbers for Palestine and join Climb the Wall

• Donate to the current Climb the Wall campaign here.
• Register as a climber and log your climbs all month towards the 768 km goal.
• Learn more about the Climb the Wall campaign.
• Learn more about Climbers for Palestine.
• Amplify our work and advocate for Palestine by following us on Instagram at @climbersforpalestine and @climb.the.wall

Find a Climb the Wall meetup near you with this map:

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