Kite Carrying Gaza Children’s Messages Reaches Everest Summit

A multinational climbing team placed a kite emblazoned with Palestinian children’s signatures and wishes atop the world’s highest peak. The expedition, led by Italian filmmaker Leonardo Avezzano and supported by Nepali Sherpas, reached the 8,848‑metre summit on Thursday.

Jordanian‑Palestinian mountaineer Mostafa Salameh, who organized the climb, confirmed the achievement via social media. Though Salameh did not summit because of frostbite and a blood clot, he remained at base camp and narrated the mission’s symbolism.

The kite’s flight marks the halfway point of a campaign to collect $10 million for medical assistance to children in Gaza. The funds target trauma care, surgeries and essential supplies amid the ongoing conflict.

Salameh described the moment as “the kite carrying the dreams of the children of Gaza is now flying above the highest point on Earth.” He added that the gesture aims to draw global attention to the humanitarian crisis in the besieged Strip.

Climbers faced the “death zone” where oxygen levels drop to roughly 15 % of sea‑level values, making each step a battle against exhaustion. Despite the risk, the team succeeded in hoisting the kite, a visual statement that hope can ascend even from conflict zones.

The expedition also highlights the role of Sherpas, whose strength and local knowledge are essential for high‑altitude climbs. Salameh praised them as “the real heroes of the Himalayas,” noting that without their support the mission would not have been possible.

Reaching the summit is not the final objective. The team must now descend safely, deciding whether to spend the night at Camp Four or continue to lower camps based on weather conditions. Salameh emphasized that the climb is a step toward a larger goal: keeping the world’s focus on Gaza’s children and securing the pledged medical aid.

The symbolic ascent underscores how humanitarian campaigns are increasingly using high‑profile stunts to cut through media noise. By linking a physical summit with a humanitarian summit, the organizers hope to convert public curiosity into concrete donations.

What to watch next: The team’s descent and the subsequent fundraising drive will reveal whether the Everest stunt translates into measurable support for Gaza’s medical needs.