(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Young Palestinian fisherman, Ibrahim al-Amoudi, a graduate from the faculty of Business Administration, decided to take his father’s path in fishing to sustain his family.
“The hard economic conditions in Gaza forced me to take my father’s job to make livelihood for me and my family,” said Ibrahim.
Murder or arrest
Ibrahim, who goes on the fishing boat with his brother and cousin, said that no single day would pass without Israeli forces opening fire at them or confiscating their fishing tools.
“We face shooting, beating, insults, and confiscation of our fishing tools and boats, and [the Israeli naval forces] detain, interrogate and threaten us,” Ibrahim added.
Mahmoud al-Hinnawi, a Gaza fisherman in his fifties, still insists on fishing to help his five children get their daily basic needs. He said that the Israeli navy has confiscated his fishing nets, as a way of putting pressure on Palestinian fishermen in all possible ways.
Khalid al-Lahham, a fisherman from Gaza, called upon the international organizations to stand for the Palestinian fishermen who are facing constant Israeli violations. He stated that he once had to leave his fishing nets behind and escape on his boat as Israeli forces opened fire at him.
Al-Lahham added, “I haven’t gone fishing for three months due to the lack of fish and our inability to fish in regions of rich fishery.”
Fishing crisis
Head of Gaza's fishermen union in Khan Younis, Fuad al-Amoudi, said that the crisis the Gaza fishermen are facing is exacerbating day by day, with Israeli naval forces tightening the grip on them in all possible ways. This, according to him, is part of the Israeli economic war on the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli violations against fishermen include:
· Allowing them to sail within limited fishing zones
· Sudden attacks
· Threatening
· Detaining, beating, and insulting
· Deliberate shooting
· Damaging and confiscating fishing nets, boats and tools
Fishless Sea
Al-Amoudi clarified that the Israeli authorities allow Gaza fishermen to fish within 9 nautical miles in the middle and south of Gaza Strip, where fish is very scarce. In addition, the permitted fishing zone in the north of Gaza Strip is only 6 nautical miles.
Nonetheless, Al-Amoudi stressed the resilience and tenacity of the Palestinian fishermen who would not let the Israeli authorities determine their fate.
The Gaza Strip has been under naval siege for more than ten years, which significantly affects the fishermen and the already-deteriorating economic conditions.
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