UPDATE: A Gaza fisherman, Ismail Farhat, has been released after enduring over two months of brutal detention by the Israeli military. Farhat, who returned to the sea despite previous bombardments that destroyed his fishing boat, faced horrific treatment that raises urgent concerns about the rights of fishermen in the region.
On October 8, 2023, Farhat set sail from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza when he was approached by an Israeli naval vessel. He recounted a harrowing experience of being ordered to surrender, detained, and interrogated, where he was threatened and tortured. “They told me I was Hamas and pretending to be a fisherman,” Farhat revealed in an interview following his release.
The Israeli military has reportedly killed at least 230 fishermen since the onset of conflict on October 7, according to the Palestinian Fishermen Syndicate. Farhat described how he was subjected to physical abuse and inhumane conditions during his time at the notorious Sde Teiman detention facility. “You live 24 hours a day with your hands cuffed. We were forbidden from speaking, forbidden from leaning to either side and from sleeping,” he stated, highlighting the severe hardships faced by detainees.
As conflict continues, the fishing sector in Gaza has been devastated, with reports indicating that over 95 percent of the industry has been destroyed. Zakaria Bakr, head of the Fishermen Union Committees in Gaza, noted that the allowed fishing area has been reduced to virtually zero, making survival increasingly impossible for local fishermen.
According to Bakr, prior to the conflict, around 4,500 fishermen were registered, but now only 400–500 remain active in fishing. The dire situation has forced them to innovate, using makeshift platforms and salvaged materials to continue their work. “Total fish production does not currently exceed 2 percent of pre-war levels,” he stated, emphasizing the desperation faced by those still attempting to fish.
Farhat’s release on December 16 came as part of a ceasefire agreement, yet the ongoing detentions highlight the precarious conditions for fishermen in Gaza. His testimony sheds light on the broader human rights abuses impacting not just individuals but entire communities reliant on fishing for sustenance.
As tensions remain high, the international community is urged to pay attention to the plight of Gaza’s fishermen, who risk their lives daily to provide for their families. The situation is developing, and further updates are expected as the humanitarian crisis unfolds.
The reality for Gaza’s fishermen remains grim, with many forced to choose between their safety and their means of survival. “We know that this profession usually leads to detention, injury, or death,” Farhat concluded, underlining the harsh truth facing those who venture into the sea.
This urgent issue demands immediate global awareness and action to protect the rights and lives of vulnerable populations in conflict zones.
