The Palestinian fishermen of Gaza are jousting with death every day to feed their families. Fishing is one of the most dangerous professions in the world, and it has become increasingly difficult in the Gaza Strip due to multiple Israeli restrictions. Fishermen are constantly pursued by the Israeli navy and are targeted with heavy fire, especially in times of fog or bad weather. They are also subject to arbitrary arrest and confiscation of their boats.
According to the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, from 2021 to 2022, three fishermen from the same family – Mohammad Hijazi Lahham, 27, his brother Zakariya Hijazi Lahham, 24, and Yahia Mustafa Lahham, 29 – were killed when their boat was destroyed by a large explosive device placed in the sea by an Israeli drone. Between 2006 and 2020, ten other fishermen were killed, 183 were injured, 650 were arrested, and at least 167 boats were destroyed or confiscated.
Fisherman Mufleh Abu Ryala explained the situation of Gaza Strip fishermen, saying, “We are living in the world’s largest sea blockade imposed on fishermen. The blockade takes many forms as the Israeli occupation continuously manipulates the allowable fishing distances, reducing them from 12 miles to 9, 6, and 3 miles. They also sometimes impose total lockdowns and prevent us from sailing.”
Furthermore, the Israeli occupation enforces several policies against fishermen, such as preventing exports, chasing them, shooting them, arresting them, confiscating their boats, and herding them to Ashdod port.
Abu Ryala is urging the international community to intervene and protect Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip. He warns that, without action, all fishing vessels in the besieged Strip may soon be suspended. Israeli authorities have blocked the entry of new engines and materials needed to maintain boats for over 15 years.
Near the port of Gaza City, there are dozens of abandoned boats, known as the “Boat Cemetery”. Some of them have been in this location for several years, as owners have been unable to maintain them due to a lack of necessary parts and materials resulting from the illegal occupation blockade. Equipment cannot reach the Gaza Strip through the crossings dedicated to the entry of goods and commercial and industrial materials.
Nizar Ayyash, head of Gaza’s Palestinian Fishermen’s Union, emphasizes the importance of fishing in fighting unemployment among fishermen. According to him, there are 5,000 fishermen in the Gaza Strip supporting approximately 50,000 people, making fishing the second most important profession after agriculture in Palestinian areas.
Ayyash confirms that many dangers surround fishermen, as Israeli occupying forces shoot at them, arrest them, and confiscate their boats. In 2022, Israeli forces arrested 40 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated 15 boats.
To illustrate the fishermen’s misery, Ayyash also indicates that more than 300 boats are totally out of working and sailing, and a large number of fishermen’s boats suffer from varying technical malfunctions. These boats are repaired randomly within the scope and experience of fishermen, leading them to operate partially and under hazardous conditions, which in itself constitutes a cause for the sinking of these vessels and a danger to fishermen’s lives.
Israeli occupation authorities have prohibited the entry of various materials necessary for the construction and repair of vessels and fishing boats in the Gaza Strip, such as Fiber Glass, boat engines, spare parts, and other materials used for boat maintenance. Israel considers these materials as “dual-use” items, which can be used for civilian and military purposes. As a result, Palestinian fishermen have not been able to manufacture new boats for 15 years due to the Israeli blockade and the ban on these materials.
In addition to the above challenges, one of the major obstacles for fishermen is the ban on the entry of motorized engines and their spare parts into Gaza. No new engines have been allowed to enter Gaza for the past 15 years, and most of the existing engines are worn out and require weekly maintenance. This increases the burden and cost to the Palestinian fishermen, who need new engines to navigate without problems.
Ayyash pointed out that while the United Nations’ efforts have helped to bring in some materials to repair disrupted fishing boats, they did not meet the needs of all fishermen or address the crisis they are experiencing. Palestinian fishermen have demanded their rights to sail deeper and import engines and devices necessary for their profession. The Fishermen’s Union has called on responsible authorities and the international community to ensure international protection for fishermen operating within the agreed “safe” space, take responsibility for their lives and freedom of action, and hold the occupation accountable for its abuses and repeated aggression.