Israel Bans Starved Palestinians from Gaza Sea in Escalating Starvation Campaign

Israel Bans Starved Palestinians from Gaza Sea in Escalating Starvation Campaign

News July 12, 2025
Israel Bans Starved Palestinians from Gaza Sea in Escalating Starvation Campaign
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Gaza’s Government Media Office has strongly condemned Israel’s order preventing starved residents from accessing the sea, calling the threat “part of a systematic policy aimed at starving the population and targeting one of their most vital sources of livelihood.” In response to the Israeli order to prevent Access to the sea, Dr. Ismail Al-Thawabta, Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza, told Quds News Network that this threat “constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the human right to work and live in dignity.” “It is part of a systematic policy aimed at starving the population and targeting one of their most vital sources of livelihood: fishing.” “The occupation not only seal off land crossings but also imposes a maritime blockade, preventing thousands of fishermen from practicing their profession and targeting them with live fire,” he added. “This conduct amounts to a form of collective punishment and clearly violates the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention, which protects civilians during wartime.” According to al-Thawabta, during the ongoing genocide, Israel has committed horrific crimes against the fishing sector:
  • Over 215 fishermen have been killed in southern Gaza governorates since October 2023.
  • The entire fishing port was destroyed, and all maritime activity was completely halted.
  • Israel also demolished critical fish farming projects worth millions of dollars, including the "Bahhar" project, killing its workers and leaving thousands of fish to die due to lack of care.
  • These violations have destroyed the sole source of income for thousands of families and caused the collapse of marine food security.
  • They also represent a breach of international treaties that guarantee the right to work and a dignified life.
  • The Israeli genocidal war has caused massive, unprecedented destruction across 15 vital sectors, with preliminary direct losses exceeding $62 billion USD.
  • Among those, the agricultural and fishing sectors alone have suffered $2.2 billion in direct losses.
The Israeli military issued a threat to Gaza residents on Saturday morning, stating that entering the sea, their last remaining breathing space, “puts you at risk.”

“We urge fishermen, swimmers, and divers to refrain from entering the sea. Entering the sea along the Strip puts you at risk,” Israeli military spokesperson threatened in a statement.

In the Israeli-besieged Gaza, where every path is blocked by Israel amid heavy bombardment and forced displacement threats , the sea stood as the last open horizon, until Israel’s latest threat turned even that into a danger zone. Many fishermen are now relying on fishing as their main source of income, and some people in Gaza are turning to fish as a source of protein amid Israel’s blockade on food. Online, Gazans are calling it an attack on their last breath of freedom.

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