Fishing remains a lifeline for many in Gaza, despite the severe risks involved. Ismail Farhat, a local fisherman, returned to the sea after his boat was destroyed, driven by the necessity to provide for his family. On October 8, 2023, he set out from Deir al-Balah on a handmade vessel, only to be intercepted by an Israeli naval ship. Farhat was detained and subjected to mistreatment, illustrating the dire circumstances faced by fishermen in the region.
During his encounter, Farhat described being ordered to strip and swim towards the naval vessel along with another fisherman. They were interrogated about their personal details and faced verbal abuse. Shortly after, Farhat was arrested, blindfolded, and handcuffed. He recounted, “They accused every fisherman of being affiliated with Hamas. They told me I was Hamas and pretending to be a fisherman.”
The dangers of fishing in Gaza have escalated significantly. According to the Palestinian Fishermen Syndicate, at least 230 fishermen have been killed since the onset of hostilities in early October. Farhat was taken to an unknown port before being transferred to Sde Teiman, an Israeli detention facility known for severe treatment of detainees.
While in detention, Farhat experienced harsh conditions. He noted that he was kept in handcuffs throughout his stay, with no access to basic comforts. “You live 24 hours a day with your hands cuffed,” he explained. “We were forbidden from speaking, leaning, or sleeping.” He shared that the facility housed around 150 Palestinian detainees, including fishermen and truck drivers.
Farhat’s release came over two months later on December 16, as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian factions. The fishing sector in Gaza has been devastated, with more than 95 percent of it reportedly destroyed. Zakaria Bakr, head of the Fishermen Union Committees in Gaza, highlighted that the Israeli military has systematically targeted the fishing industry, leading to the destruction of boats and vital infrastructure.
Under the terms of the 1993 Oslo Accords, Palestinian fishermen are allowed to fish up to 20 nautical miles off the coast; however, this has seldom been enforced. Over the past three decades, the permitted fishing zone has been restricted to between three and 12 nautical miles. Bakr emphasized that since the beginning of the current conflict, the fishing area has been effectively reduced to zero, constituting a total naval blockade.
The humanitarian impact is severe. Prior to the conflict, nearly 90 percent of fishermen in Gaza lived below the poverty line. “Under these conditions, they are forced to go to sea and risk their lives to secure food for themselves and their communities,” Bakr stated. Before October 2023, around 4,500 fishermen were officially registered, but now only about 400 to 500 are actively engaged in fishing activities.
The situation has led to desperate measures, with some fishermen constructing makeshift platforms from dismantled boats and even refrigerator doors. Fishing nets are often retrieved from rubble. Current fish production levels are alarmingly low, with total output not exceeding two percent of pre-war figures.
Bakr revealed that the collective catch from Gaza Port now amounts to only 16 kilograms a day, compared to daily catches of up to 15 tonnes before the war. “No one is allowed to enter the sea; this is collective punishment,” he lamented.
The plight of fishermen like Ismail Farhat underscores the broader human cost of the ongoing conflict, highlighting the intersection of survival, violence, and the struggle for basic rights in a region fraught with turmoil.
