Israeli occupation army destroys Gaza fishing sector, blocks livelihood despite ceasefire

Eighteen days have elapsed since the enforcement of the ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, but this barely did much to alter the grim reality facing fishermen in the Gaza Strip, who were barred from pursuing their livelihood since the onset of the Israeli offensive up to the present time.Throughout the months-long aggression, nearly 5,000 fishermen were prevented from entering Gaza seaport to assume their work which is critical source of income for thousands of fishermen, thereby aggravating their economic crises and eliminating the key elements of this profession which was apparently not better than the situation before the Israeli onslaught.Prior to October 7, the Israeli occupation army was imposing numerous measures and intimidation practices that compromised this work which was not spared from the Israeli devastation machines that destroyed fishing vessels congregated and docked at Gaza's seaport, where relentless bombardment, incineration, and devastation obliterated most fishermen's boats and storage facilities.In his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), head of the Fishermen Union Committees in Gaza, Zakaria Bakr, highlighted that it would take long years and massive potential for fishing sector to recover from the fallout of decimation caused by the Israeli aggression. He indicated that the foremost requirements entail the significance of allowing the delivery of fishing equipment and lifting the restrictions imposed on fishermen.The Israeli onslaught has systematically decimated the entire Gaza seaport and facilities, with the Israeli army shelling fishing boats, crippling the marine fishing and bringing it to standstill, Bakr said.He added that the Israeli army destroyed approximately 95 percent of large-sized boats, along with around 95 smaller sizes, in addition to nearly 120 fishermen's storage facilities, ice factories, and all civilian infrastructure within the maritime port, stressing that the destruction percentage exceeded 90 percent leaving small boats docked at Deir Al Balah beach and south of Khan Younis.Bakr emphasized that Israel keeps preventing fishermen from entering the seas, albeit their constant attempts to practice their job amid high stakes and impending death.Upon stumbling on his destroyed fishing boat in Gaza seaport, one of those fishermen told QNA that fishermen are striving to return, since this job is the only source of their sustenance, but the Israeli naval vessels prevent them from doing so and keep firing at them. He called for either deploying manufacturing materials to repair the boats or delivering well-equipped ones.Another fisherman highlighted that the pre-war cost of fishing boats was high, but now it has become much higher with exorbitant prices, indicating that work will be impossible amid the decimation that was inflicted upon fishing boats.Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli genocidal war has inflicted massive devastation upon the Palestinian infrastructure, including various sectors, with a government report recently indicating that the direct loss caused by the aggression exceeded USD50 billion in multiple sectors, including economic, agricultural and industrial and commercial facilities.