Every morning, Muhammad Abu Rayala sets out in his small boat, hoping to catch enough fish to feed his family. But the sea, once a source of livelihood, has become a death trap. Israeli occupation boats bombard fishermen with shells, forcing them to return empty-handed, trapped between gunfire and the hunger threatening their families.  

“This is not the first time the occupation has targeted us,” says Abu Rayala. “Some of us are injured, others martyred. They want to suffocate us economically, and the world stays silent.” Since the war began on October 7, 2023, his boat was destroyed, and his nets torn. Now, he relies on a borrowed boat, risking his life with every trip.  

Nearby, brothers Tareq and Amjad sit on the shore, their livelihoods lost. Their $150,000 boat, equipped with fishing gear, was destroyed in the war, leaving them and ten other fishermen without income. “The occupation sank our boats to destroy life in Gaza,” says Tareq. Amjad recalls better days when they returned with nets full of fish. Now, their home in Shati refugee camp lies in ruins, and the sea, once a lifeline, is a source of danger.  

Zakaria Bakr, a fishing sector specialist, confirms that Israeli forces have systematically targeted Gaza’s fishermen long before the war, imposing a naval blockade, restricting fishing zones, and confiscating boats. Since October 7, the destruction has intensified. About 1,000 motorboats and 700 rowboats have been destroyed, and the port’s jetty was bombed, leaving a 20-meter crater.  

“The fishing sector is in complete collapse,” says Bakr. Fishermen now work within 500 meters of the shore, under constant threat. Since the war began, 150 fishermen have been killed, 50 while trying to feed their families. The few fish that reach markets are sold at skyrocketing prices due to scarcity.  

With 4,500 licensed fishermen and 1,500 others dependent on the sector, the devastation is widespread. “What goes to sea is lost, and what returns is born,” Bakr says, capturing the despair of Gaza’s fishermen. They call on the international community to support them, but for now, the sea remains a battleground, and survival a daily struggle.