Gaza Herald – The Gaza Center for Human Rights reported on Thursday that Israel carried out a sustained and systematic attack against Gaza’s fishing sector, moving from strict restrictions to full-scale destruction of its infrastructure.
According to the center, the attack on the coast destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinian families, deepening a strategy of starvation used as a tool of war.
Over the past months, Israeli forces targeted over 5,000 fishermen, demolishing large fishing boats, smaller vessels, and essential equipment, leaving much of the fleet permanently inoperable.
Investigators documented that main harbors in Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah were hit, destroying nearly 95% of large trawlers and thousands of smaller boats, while engines, ice factories, and repair workshops were also targeted. The destruction made rebuilding the sector beyond local capabilities.
The report highlighted that Israel established a “closed military zone” along the coastline, opening fire on anyone attempting to access the sea. At least 235 fishermen were killed, including around 40 while at work, with dozens more injured within 100 meters of the shore. Dozens of others were abducted, and the remaining equipment was confiscated as a form of economic punishment.
The Gaza Center for Human Rights classified these actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. The group emphasized that targeting civilian livelihoods, including fishing infrastructure, constitutes collective punishment prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention and violates principles of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity.
The organization called on the international community to immediately pressure Israel to halt attacks on fishermen, ensure freedom of work at sea, and provide protective measures. It urged the International Criminal Court to investigate the destruction of the fishing sector as part of a broader “starvation campaign” against civilians in Gaza and demanded emergency aid for rebuilding harbors and replacing lost equipment.
