Gaza fishermen rebuild small boats from rubble as materials run short

GAZA CITY: Fishermen in Gaza are repairing small pleasure dinghies with salvaged fibreglass, wood and even door frames pulled from bombed-out buildings, as they try to keep the enclave’s depleted fishing trade operating.

The vessels were previously used by families and swimmers before the war, but have now become increasingly important to fishermen as repairs to larger, purpose-built boats have grown harder and more costly. Fishermen said Israeli restrictions on the entry of new fibreglass and other materials into Gaza have sharply limited their ability to restore damaged boats.

Fisherman Mohammad al-Hissi told Reuters that prices for essential repair material had risen dramatically since before the war.

“A kilo of fibreglass in the era before the war was 50 or 60 shekels,”

He said the same quantity now costs around 800 shekels.

Restrictions and shrinking access

COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls access to Gaza, told Reuters that restrictions apply to items that can have both civilian and military uses. It did not directly address the reported limits on fibreglass imports.

Even before the war that began in October 2023, Gaza’s fishermen were operating under Israeli limits on how far they could sail into the sea. They now say they are staying even nearer to the shore because of fears of being shot, which they say has continued despite a ceasefire reached last year.

Asked about those reports, Israel’s military said the navy was enforcing maritime security restrictions in Gaza’s waters and that when those rules were breached, soldiers operated in accordance with the rules of engagement.

According to Gaza health officials, more than 900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce began. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Industry in steep decline

Zakaria Baker, a member of the Gaza Fishermen Syndicate, said the sector’s total catch has dropped to less than 15 tonnes a month. He said that before the war, fishermen used to bring in that amount each day.

Fishing had been an important source of food in Gaza before the conflict. While the hunger emergency has eased since famine was declared in parts of the territory before the ceasefire, aid agencies say most children still do not receive a sufficiently varied diet. The United Nations reported that 3,500 children were admitted for malnutrition treatment in April.

At a boat repair shop, worker Musab Baker described how limited the repair effort has become.

“We repair and maintain boats, and serve fishermen in any way we can,”

He added:

“But we are unable to do anything apart from the small boats.”