Zakaria Bakr, spokesperson for Gaza’s fishermen, confirmed that the fishing sector in Gaza has been subjected to systematic destruction by Israel for years, noting that the war exacerbated the crisis and led to the near-total collapse of the sector. In a statement to Al-Ittihad newspaper, Bakr said that the fishing sector is the second most important productive sector in Gaza after agriculture, but that prior to the Israeli war, it faced three main forms of violations: a tight naval blockade, the reduction and manipulation of fishing areas, and direct attacks on fishermen and their boats, as well as the prevention of the entry of fishing equipment.
He explained that Israeli warships have, for years, carried out pursuit and shooting operations that resulted in the killing, wounding, and arrest of many fishermen, in addition to the destruction of boats and the confiscation of their equipment. He emphasized that Israel had been manipulating the maritime zones dozens of times a year even before the outbreak of the war.
Bakr pointed out that Israel aims, through the naval blockade, to deprive Gaza residents of one of their most important food sources and force Palestinians into complete dependence on aid and Israeli-controlled crossings. He explained that the Gaza Strip has been transformed from a food producer to an importer dependent on what Israel permits to enter.
He added that another Israeli objective is to control the marine resources off the coast of Gaza, noting ongoing Israeli exploration and drilling operations related to gas and other natural resources in the sea, while simultaneously imposing severe restrictions on the movement of fishermen.
The spokesperson for Gaza’s fishermen pointed out that Israel has completely prevented fishermen from accessing the sea since the beginning of the war, explaining that more than two and a half years of military operations have led to the destruction of approximately 95% of fishermen’s property, including boats, engines, warehouses, and harbors.
