Israeli Naval Forces Open Fire Near Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza

Israeli naval forces detained ten fishermen on Tuesday off the coast of Zawayda in central Gaza and the Sheikh Ajlin area southwest of Gaza City, according to the Palestine News Agency.

The Union of Fishermen’s Committees reported that the fishermen were detained after Israeli forces opened fire on their boats, later transferring them to Ashdod port. Seven were subsequently released, while three were taken to an undisclosed location.

Since Israel began bombing the coastal enclave in late 2023, at least 202 people working in Gaza’s fishing sector have been killed, and 90 percent of the region’s fishing boats have been destroyed, according to a report by Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights and the Palestinian NGOs Network. According to a statement from the Israeli navy last month, no motorized boats currently remain in Gaza. The ongoing conflict has left at least 4,500 fishermen and 1,500 workers in related trades without their primary source of income, following the destruction of Gaza’s main port.

Zakaria Bakr, head of Gaza’s Fishermen’s Committees, said Israeli forces have deliberately targeted docks and fishing vessels with gunboats and airstrikes since the war began, destroying 95 percent of fishermen’s property, including ice factories, fish markets, and the main trading hub at the port.

Also Read:

Libya Charts New Political Future With Two-Year Election Roadmap

UAE Gets Its First AI Laptop That Works Without an Internet Connection