In pictures: Free running in Gaza

For the latest generation of young Palestinians to have grown up in the Khan Younis camp, under-educated and unemployed, parkour is the ultimate means of escape [Mariam Shahin]

"Things started simply and we had no idea how obsessed we would become" [Mariam Shahin]

The essential definition of parkour is "finding your own way" [Mariam Shahin]

Unemployment is extremely high in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of Gazans resort to collecting and selling gravel needed for construction in the enclave [EPA]

"Camp life is very simple, almost primitive; most houses have asbestos roofs" [EPA]

"It is not simply about having fun, it is also about challenging yourself" [EPA]

"Parkour is a life philosophy and each person overcomes barriers in their own way" [Mariam Shahin]

"We never imagined something would overshadow the occupation, the wars" [EPA]

"When I wanted to go to the sea, the checkpoints would stop me; when I wanted to go to Gaza City, the checkpoints would block my way" [Mariam Shahin]

"This sport empowers me to be strong in the face of all these obstacles; it allows me to stay steadfast in the face of this occupation" [EPA]

"We practice every day in isolated areas" [Mariam Shahin]

"We are facing a lot of resistance from family, from neighbours, from the police" [EPA]

"I dream of travelling abroad in order to take part in international competitions" [Mariam Shahin]

"Parkour is more an art than a sport; it challenges the imagination" [EPA]

"It makes you feel like you are defying gravity" [Mariam Shahin]