ISRAELI OCCUPIED GAZA, 11 January. - (ANA) - Israeli forces regularly target Palestinian fishermen, destroying their equipment and forcing their boats to capsize. The attacks have devastated the sector.

 

Israeli forces have killed at least 232 fishermen in Gaza since the start of the war on the enclave, with recent attacks devastating the industry, affecting livelihoods, and limiting their catch.

 

Despite the ceasefire in place since October, Israeli forces on Sunday targeted fishermen in the sea off Khan Younis in the south of the enclave.

 

According to The New Arab’s sister publication, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Israeli gunboats opened fire on the fishermen who were working near the seashore, killing one man identified as Abdul Rahman Abdul Hadi al-Qan, and wounding another.

 

The attacks on fishermen have been consistent since October 2023, Zakaria Bakr, the coordinator of the Palestinian fishermen’s committee at the Union of Agricultural Work, said.

 

Bakr told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that a recent Israeli attack had resulted in the killing of two fisherman, while two others drowned when their boats capsized. He added that at least 28 fishermen had been detained arbitrarily since the ceasefire came into effect.

 

Around 67 of the 232 fishermen killed were targeted while fishing, with their boats directly hit, according to local media

 

The attacks have destroyed over 95 percent of the enclave’s fishing sector, Bakr added.

 

Along with firing at fishermen, Israeli forces have also imposed heavy restrictions on Palestinians, which prevent them from accessing the sea – something Bakr noted was a violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

 

At times, the Israeli army completely closes off access to the beach, citing security reasons, depriving Palestinians of respite at the beach and access to food.

 

Despite the attacks, Palestinian fishermen continue to make their way to the sea to earn a livelihood and have something to eat amid the dire humanitarian conditions created by over two years of war on the Strip.

 

Israel has, for decades, limited Palestinians’ access to the sea. During the 1993 Oslo Accords, Palestinian fishermen were only permitted access to 20 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast – a term that was never properly implemented and was reduced by Israel shortly after.

 

In 2013, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemned Israel’s decision to reduce the fishing range in Gaza to 3 nautical miles. The rights group said it had brought the fishing sector in Gaza to the brink of collapse, adding that exports were also prohibited.

 

Since then, Israel has changed the permitted fishing zone, from between three and 12 nautical miles.

 

Despite this, Palestinian fishermen were able to, before the war, secure a livelihood, particularly from the sale of blue crabs, known locally as "blue gold".

 

In Gaza, the highly anticipated crab season lasts from September to November each year, but over the last few years, fishermen have not been able to fish for them due to the genocide and because they are found miles away from the shore.

 

Israel's war on Gaza has killed over 70,000 Palestinians since October 2023.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/11 January 2026 - - -