On August 18, 2025, 31-year-old Palestinian Muhammad Abu Dakha arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa after a daring 12-hour jet ski journey across the Mediterranean. Abu Dakha fled Gaza in April 2024 after his home was destroyed, first crossing into Egypt. He initially sought asylum in China but was rejected, forcing him to return through Malaysia and Indonesia before eventually attempting to reach Europe via Libya.
After multiple failed attempts, he bought a used Yamaha jet ski for $5,000, equipped with GPS, a satellite phone, and life jackets. Along with two other Palestinians, he set out from Libya, towing a dinghy of supplies. The group ran out of fuel just 20 km from Lampedusa and were rescued by a Romanian patrol boat under a Frontex mission. From Lampedusa, they were transferred to mainland Italy, later reaching Brussels, and then Germany, where Abu Dakha has now applied for asylum. His family remains trapped in Gaza.
“It was a very difficult journey, but we were adventurers. We had strong hope that we would arrive, and God gave us strength,” said one of the travelers.
Abu Dakha stated: “Without my family, life has no meaning. That’s why I risked my life on a jet ski.”
German authorities have declined to comment on his asylum application.
Read full report:
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/gaza-europe-via-jet-ski-muhammad-abu-dakhas-daring-escape-story-2025-09-15/?utm_source=perplexity
