A Palestinian fisherman, Hassan al-Habil, 51, was killed and another injured when Israeli naval vessels opened fire off western Gaza City on Saturday morning. Zakaria Bakr, head of the Union of Fishermen, described al-Habil’s death as a deliberate execution while he worked at sea, with his cousin wounded while trying to save him.

Since October 7, 2023, nearly 210 fishermen have been killed by Israeli forces, as the blockade and bombardment continue to devastate Gaza. Bakr reported that around 95% of the fishing sector has been destroyed, including boats, warehouses, ice production facilities, and port infrastructure, leaving families facing severe economic hardship.

Israel’s total ban on Gaza’s waters, imposed since July 14, forces fishermen into small, overcrowded vessels, risking their lives daily. The ongoing attacks, backed by U.S. support, compound a broader campaign of killing, starvation, and displacement that has already claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and left hundreds of thousands homeless.