Fishing under threat as war takes toll on enclave’s coastal waters
Calm amid the constant sounds of war, the Mediterranean stands out as the only thing in Gaza that has not been damaged by the Israeli army.
Not only is it a source of income for Gaza’s fishermen, it is also a symbolic part of the city’s identity.
“I have been working in the fishing profession for 30 years. We have never experienced days like these before,” fisherman Ibrahim Al Rai told The National.
Mr Al Rai, from western Gaza, has been displaced to the Jabaliya refugee camp, which, like most of the enclave, has been heavily bombed.
After a brief truce last year, the Israeli army withdrew from the camp, allowing Mr Al Rai and other fishermen to venture a short distance out to sea.
The risks were high, and the Israeli military posed a constant threat, with boats often patrolling close to the shore and drones hovering overhead. But the fishermen had no choice – they needed to feed themselves and their families.
“For more than a day, we sold fish, but unfortunately, prices were high compared to normal days because the quantities were limited,” Mr Al Rai said.
Another fisherman, Hani Rizq, has lived at northern Gaza’s Beach refugee camp since the Israeli army told residents west of Gaza city to flee.
During the pause in fighting in November, he returned to the port for the first time since the war started, to find that boats and valuable equipment had been destroyed.
“We saw how the army had destroyed everything related to fishermen,” Mr Rizq told The National.
Returning to the refugee camp after the truce, Mr Rizq and his family sought refuge in school buildings, as their home had been significantly damaged. Despite the challenges, they went back to sea to fish, selling what they caught to provide for their children.
The Israeli army has divided Gaza into zones of conflict, which has led to food and aid shortages, particularly in the north of the enclave.
Yahya Ghubayin, from Jabaliya camp, was also determined
During last year’s truce, fishermen returned to port to find that boats and valuable equipment had been destroyed
to go to sea every day, if only to briefly escape the war.
“I finally reached the sea after four months, after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of northern Gaza, leaving behind a scene of massive and terrifying destruction,” he told The National.
“As my body touched the water, I felt a connection to Gaza and its sea, something we were deprived of for so long. The seawater was warm, and we relished in the joy of swimming.
“Turning my face towards the sea, I found the only unchanged element in Gaza. Yet, behind me lay the devastated Gaza, a heartbreaking sight.
“Before the war, the beach thrived with life, beauty, restaurants and cafes. Today, it stands as a landscape of destruction and ruins, marked by many horrific scenes. Despite all this devastation, I will personally continue to cherish and visit the sea of Gaza.”