SAFA - The head of the General Union of Fishing and Marine Production Workers, Zakaria Bakr, said the Israeli occupation forces continue to tighten their siege on Gaza’s fishermen, whose work has been subjected to restrictions and harassment for years, culminating in a complete ban on their access to the sea and their ability to practice their profession since the start of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

Bakr stated that the occupation completely prevents fishermen from accessing the sea, while any attempt to sail is met with gunfire and shelling from Israeli warships, making every fishing trip fraught with the risk of death, injury, or arrest.

He confirmed that four fishermen have been killed since the beginning of this year, while 32 others have been detained and 24 injured, including some who sustained serious wounds. He stressed that the arrests take place under harsh conditions, with fishermen held for prolonged periods while their families remain unaware of their whereabouts or fate.

He added that a number of fishermen have remained in occupation custody for years, including some who have been detained for nearly seven years. Some have even completed their sentences without being released.

Bakr explained that the fishing ban imposed at the beginning of the genocide represents the longest period during which Gaza’s fishermen have been denied access to the sea and prevented from working, despite fishing having long been a vital source of income for thousands of families.

He noted that some fishermen are attempting to reach the sea using primitive hasakas, small rowing boats, that have been painstakingly repaired and restored. However, they can travel only a few meters from the shore, further increasing the risks they face.

Bakr stressed that around 95% of Gaza’s fishing sector has been destroyed since the beginning of the war. He said more than 233 fishermen have been killed, more than 140 injured, and more than 150 detained.

He concluded by saying that the continued closure of Gaza’s waters means more than simply depriving fishermen of their livelihoods; it cuts off the main source of income for thousands of families at a time when the sector is facing widespread destruction and continued restrictions on access to one of Gaza’s most important sources of food and income.