GAZA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Every morning, long before the sun rises over the horizon, Salim Abu Rayala, a Palestinian fisherman from Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City, unties his weathered wooden boat and pushes it into the waters of the Mediterranean.
Abu Rayala understands all too well the sea's dual nature -- its potential to provide a good catch and its capacity to take his life. However, the father of eight has had no other choice. "I must struggle for my family," he said.
At 55, the man has spent over three decades fishing for sardines, mullets, and sea bream along Gaza's coastline. But since the onset of the Israeli war against the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the sea has morphed into a place of peril, despair, and dwindling prospects.
"I still go out every day, even if I catch nothing," Abu Rayala said. "Some days, I sail just far enough to wet my nets before returning empty-handed. I risk my life for nothing, but what choice do I have?"
With Israel's strict restrictions on access to Gaza's fishing waters, local fishermen face constant threats of gunfire, harassment, and arrest if they stray beyond the established boundary.
"Sometimes, they (Israeli troops) shoot in the air. Other times, they target the boat engine," Abu Rayala recounted. "I've seen friends wounded and boats destroyed. But we persist -- we have families to feed."
As the Israeli offensive continues, the fishing industry is on the verge of total collapse, facing challenges such as fuel shortages and a lack of spare parts.
"I used to bring fish home for dinner. Now, I sell whatever I catch just to buy rice, oil, and vegetables. It is no longer about nourishing my family -- it's about survival," Abu Rayala said.
Each kilogram of fish is sold for 30 U.S. dollars. "The price is much higher compared to the pre-war level, but I still cannot make a living," he lamented.
Across Gaza's coastal neighborhoods, similar scenes unfold daily. Thousands of fishermen have been displaced or have lost their jobs. Many have resorted to alternative means of livelihood, even trading their fishing gear for wheelbarrows or collecting firewood from bombed-out buildings.
Ahed Baker, another fisherman in Al-Shati refugee camp, is patching a net. His small boat has remained out of the water for five weeks. "Fuel is too expensive, and I don't even have bait," he told Xinhua.
"The sea once was our lifeline. Now it is blocked, broken, and fraught with danger," he said. "There is nothing else left for us. The land is dry. The sky rains bombs. And even though the sea is empty, it remains the only place I truly know how to navigate."