Reading a bit further into the reporting, we find out that Abu Mayala does this for fun all the time. But this particular swim was in solidarity with the poor Arabs of Gaza and Syria.
One other thing about this wonderful example of solidarity: None of the news stories I have read about it mentions the name of any charity that he is asking people to give money to. Nor do the stories say that he got sponsors for this event, a stunt that he would have done anyway.
This stunt was perhaps more symbolic than Abu Mayala intended.
Because he acted the way that Palestinian leaders act - valuing symbol over substance, preferring stunts over useful actions.
Just like his leaders, he did not help a single person - but he got a lot of publicity, which is all that really matters when you value symbols over substance..
