Published On 4/26/2026
Israeli attacks on fishermen’s boats in the Gaza Sea continue, in light of repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement, which exacerbates the suffering of thousands of fishermen who have lost their source of livelihood.
Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Ayman Al-Hassi reported that the occupation forces continue to fire on small boats and on the beaches of the Gaza Strip, and prevent fishermen from going out to sea, adding that about 4,000 fishermen have been affected by these ongoing attacks.
Al-Hassi explained that the hundreds of boats that were sunk by the occupation only remained traces of them, in a scene that reflects the magnitude of the losses inflicted on the fishing sector.
The official of the fishermen’s committees, Zakaria Bakr, says that violations against fishermen continue on a daily basis, and include direct shooting and sinking of boats, leading to martyrs and injuries. He pointed out that these attacks did not stop even before the war, but they escalated during it.
He added that the occupation seeks to prevent fishermen from entering the sea through persecution, bombing, and firing of missiles, pointing out that the Palestinian fisherman is now faced with the choice of being completely prevented or risking his life at sea.
In a comparison between before the war and the current situation, Bakr explains that the fishing sector included about a thousand motor boats, including 96 large boats, along with more than 5 thousand fishermen, while fishermen today rely on primitive means, such as small boats, cork boards, and even refrigerator doors that are used as buoyancy devices for fishing.
Fish production
According to the official of the fishermen’s committees in Gaza, preventing the operation of engines for more than two and a half years led to a significant decline in work at sea, and affected fish production, which decreased from about 15 to 20 tons per day to only about 10 tons per month.
Bakr confirms that the targeting also affected the infrastructure, as the port was bombed with about 26 missiles, in addition to the destruction of stores and fishing equipment.
In the context of human losses, the spokesman points out that the occupation killed more than 232 fishermen, injured more than 100 others, and arrested more than 100 fishermen, while more than 30 fishermen are still in Israeli prisons.
He also points out that fishermen are prevented from working in an area not exceeding one kilometer in the sea, in light of the continued targeting.
Regarding international movements, the official of the fishermen’s committees says that they are in contact with human rights organizations and international institutions, which are showing their solidarity, but this has not been reflected in practical measures on the ground.
Zakaria Bakr confirms that fishermen continue to work despite the risks, in an attempt to preserve their source of livelihood, in light of the difficult humanitarian conditions their families are experiencing.
