Palestinian fishermen have been working along the coast of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. After more than a year of war, they gather on the shoreline, casting their nets in hopes of catching enough fish to feed their families amid widespread hunger.
Since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza following Hamas’s attack in October 2023, fishing has become nearly impossible. Restrictions in the waters off Gaza have forced fishermen to stay close to shore instead of venturing out to sea.
In Khan Younis, 71-year-old Ibrahim Ghurab and 24-year-old Waseem Al Masry fish for sardines right in front of a camp filled with tents and temporary shelters for people displaced by the conflict.
“Life is difficult,” Ghurab shared. “We’re just trying to find food. There is no aid; we don’t receive anything anymore. At first, there was some humanitarian help, but now it has all stopped.”
Fishermen like Ghurab and Al Masry face challenges every day, often bringing home just enough fish for their families, with hardly any left over to sell. Before the conflict, fishing played a vital role in daily life in Gaza, allowing families to earn a living by selling their catches in the market.
However, due to limited aid and ongoing restrictions, many families now have no income, making basic goods unaffordable.
“We have to risk our lives by coming here,” Al Masry said, explaining that Israeli military actions have included shooting at fishermen from the sea, which he claims targets those fishing on the beach in Khan Younis.
Ghurab echoed his concerns, stating that military boats have fired on fishermen in the area as well.
The Israeli military did not respond to requests from Reuters for comment regarding these allegations of targeting fishermen.
