Contrary to Claims, Israel Did Not Ease Gaza Sea Restrictions After Sumud Flotilla

Following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by the Israeli navy, social media users circulated claims that Israel was busy intercepting the flotilla, allowing a rare fishing activity to take place in Gaza. Videos of fishermen from Gaza with full nets of fish spread on social media.

In this article, Misbar investigates the circulating videos and verifies their true context.

Video of Fishermen Pulling Fish Net Predates Interception of Gaza Flotilla

Among the videos that circulated widely was a video of several fishermen pulling a full fish net that appeared heavy. An X user shared the video, claiming the catch was possible due to the timing of the Sumud flotilla, implying a link between the two events.

Through reverse image search, Misbar’s team traced the video back to a TikTok video published by the user “yousef_j9000” on September 29, which was tagged “Gaza sea.”

Israel intercepted the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla between October 1 and October 3, 2025, at least one day after the original publication of the video in question.

Video of Full Fish Net Is Outdated

Another widely circulated clip further amplified these claims. A video depicting several fishermen encircling a net filled with fish was shared alongside the same claims that the catch was possible because Israeli forces were “distracted” by the interception of the Sumud flotilla.

Reverse image search led to a video shared by the same TikTok user as the previous video on February 2, months before the launch of the Sumud flotilla.

Both Videos Likely Filmed During January Truce

Misbar’s previous investigation into the date of the first video, which was originally published in late September, found that it bears great similarities with the second video investigated in this blog, as well as with another video published by the same user on January 29.

Notably, across all three videos, the individuals wear identical winter attire—including one person appearing in the same outfit in each clip—indicating that the footage was likely filmed on a single day in January 2025, most likely around January 29, the date of the earliest publication among the three clips.

During this time, Gaza was under a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel. The ceasefire started on January 19, 2025, and officially ended on March 18, 2025, when Israel withdrew from the agreement.

No Change in Israel’s Sea Policy

The broader claim that Gaza fishermen experienced relief due to Israel being allegedly “distracted” by the flotilla is misleading as well. There has been no change in Israel’s long-standing restrictions on Gaza’s sea. The Israeli navy continues to close off the fishing zone and open fire on boats that sail beyond the limited permitted area.

In an interview with TNA, Palestinian fisherman Mohammed al-Habil stated that all of their hopes to fish freely after the Sumud flotilla were shattered, as nothing changed and the usual restrictions continued to apply.

Al-Habil’s testimony aligns with several other testimonies by local fishermen interviewed by the New Arab and TNA following the interception of the Sumud flotilla.

According to data from the Gaza Fishermen's Syndicate, over 90 percent of fishermen have stopped working in the past two years. Since the war began in October 2023, Israel has prohibited them from going out to sea.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has intensified military restrictions and attacks on Gaza’s fishermen, both at sea and on land. These attacks include lethal shootings, drone strikes, shelling, and the destruction of boats and ports.

According to the Gaza’s Ministry of Agriculture, before the war, fishing provided 4,660 tons of wild fish and 750 tons of farmed fish annually. Around 18,000 workers in Gaza were directly dependent on fishing for their livelihoods, with an extended impact on over 110,000 family members.

However, by 2025, production dropped to just 7.3% of prewar capacity. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that 94% of trawlers, 100% of large purse seiners, 62% of small purse seiners, 71% of long-line and fixed-net vessels, and 70% of feluccas in Gaza were destroyed or lost.

In 2024, Israel permitted fishing in Gaza to a maximum of six nautical miles, though in practice the limit was often restricted to three nautical miles or less. This limit is often reduced and can vary arbitrarily by Israeli naval forces. The fishing limit was officially declared a “no-go zone” at times, banning fishing entirely, such as in January 2025, right before the last truce.

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