News - Middle East: Fishermen in Gaza face deadly challenges in their quest to earn their daily bread. In the early morning hours, fishermen board their small boats filled with hope despite fear, making their way through the sea that was once their sole source of livelihood but has now become an arena of danger and death. 

They are surrounded by occupation forces that seek to turn it into another source of suffering by depriving them of their basic sustenance or killing them through shelling and direct targeting by the Israeli enemy.

Around 4,000 fishermen work in the fishing sector, supporting more than 20,000 family members. Although peace agreements allow fishermen to sail up to 20 nautical miles into sea waters, the Zionist occupation forces consistently impose strict restrictions on them, often not permitting them to sail beyond 6 nautical miles, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture.

Fishing production has declined catastrophically since the naval blockade was imposed on the Gaza Strip. Statistics show that annual fishing production has dropped from 3,650 tons before the blockade to less than 2,000 tons in recent years - a decrease of over 45%.

Human rights reports have documented numerous incidents where fishermen were subjected to Zionist attacks, including direct gunfire from enemy naval vessels, confiscation of their boats, and the arrest of dozens of them.

Although fishermen practice one of the traditional professions with no alternatives in besieged Gaza, the Israeli enemy does not hesitate to target them at sea, making fishing trips fraught with constant dangers and threats.

The situation is worsening in Gaza. Alongside intense bombardment of residential areas, the occupation targets Palestinians at sea and prevents them from obtaining their food, deliberately cutting off their available means of livelihood.

The sea remains the only way to survive amid the starvation war imposed by the criminal entity's occupation forces, but it simultaneously represents a field of bombardment and killing. Zionist naval vessels fire on Palestinian boats and even target fishermen while they work at sea.

In one documented incident featured on the program "Windows" on Al-Masirah channel, a fisherman said: "Despite all the dangers, we go out to sea every day. We don't know if we'll return to our homes or not, but we leave because we have no other choice. There are no other jobs in Gaza, and the sea is the only source to support our families."

The aggression machine continues to target all aspects of life in Gaza, including basic livelihoods. Humanitarian organizations have documented reports that many fishermen cannot return to sea after their equipment was destroyed and they were arrested by Zionist forces, increasing their economic suffering. These fishermen thus face extreme poverty, with many earning no more than $100 per month - an amount that barely covers their families' daily needs.

Many fishermen live below the poverty line and struggle to provide food for their children at a time when the Gaza Strip is experiencing a severe shortage of basic food items due to the blockade, the closure of crossings, and the prevention of aid entry since last May 3rd.

Many Palestinian fishermen in Gaza face numerous dangers as the Zionist killing and aggression machine continues to impose its naval blockade, in addition to the continued absence of any prospects for peace or alleviation of suffering.

One fisherman said: "The enemy targets us at sea, but we have no choice but to continue fishing. We face death every day, but nothing can stop us from fighting the hunger that threatens our families."

Despite the deteriorating situation in Gaza, many fishermen continue their work at sea, defying the danger of direct targeting by the Israeli enemy.

In the end, these fishermen prove that hope for life despite suffering is what keeps the fire of resistance burning in their hearts. With each new dawn, fishermen carry hope of returning to the sea, though this hope is mixed with fear at a time when the sea has transformed from their source of livelihood into an arena of death.