Israel’s incursion in Gaza has devastated the Strip’s only source of fresh fish, leaving hundreds of fishermen without a source of income, Al Jazeera reports.

Israeli attacks have destroyed boats, ports and other equipment, restricting Palestinians to a designated fishing zone.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says Gaza’s average daily catch between October 2023 and April 2024 dropped to just 7.3 per cent of levels in 2022, a loss of $17.5m in production.

“Gaza’s only seaport, a symbol of hope, turned into one of despair, under Israel’s siege,” said Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza. “For years, this port provided Gaza’s fishermen with a livelihood and served as an escape from the noise of city life in summer times.

“But now, it stands still, blockaded and broken.”

“We lost everything and our boats were devastated and sunk by the Israeli army during its military operations on Gaza,” Sami al-Najaar, a resident of the Shati refugee camp, told Al Jazeera. “Instead, we are using this fishing rod, and can only catch enough to feed our families.”