Photos: Gaza’s fishermen sail out as Israel and Hamas lift blockade

After weeks of looking out to sea in uncertainty over prospects of livelihood, fishermen in Gaza have drawn back anchors and set sail into the Mediterranean once more. The news follows a mutual agreement between Israel and Hamas to reopen Gaza's main goods crossing and letting fishermen back to work, up to 15 nautical miles. Livelihoods had been stymied by two separate bans - one by Israel since August 16 and the other by Hamas police imposing COVID-19 restrictions.

Updated on: Sep 03, 2020 6:10 PM IST

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A fisherman collects his catch as a cat walks past him at Gaza Seaport on September 3, after Israel allowed fishermen back into the waters to work up to 15 nautical miles following an agreement to end weeks of escalation between Israel and Hamas on August 31. (Suhaib Salem / REUTERS)

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Fishermen sail a boat out from Gaza Seaport early in the morning on September 3. The fishermen had for weeks looked helplessly at the Mediterranean waters they were cut off from under two separate bans - one by Israel and the other by Hamas police imposing COVID-19 restrictions. (Suhaib Salem / REUTERS)

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A fisherman repairs his net at Gaza Seaport after Israel lifted the blockade on fishermen sailing out to sea, on September 3. Under the deal, brokered by a Qatari envoy, Hamas will end the launching of incendiary balloons, and Israel will end air strikes, a Palestinian official close to the mediation told Reuters. (Suhaib Salem / REUTERS)

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Fishermen gather their net as operations begin at Gaza Seaport on September 3. In a narrow coastal enclave that is home to 2 million Palestinians, the 40 km coastline in normal times provides an important food source, and employment for an estimated 4,000 fishermen. (Suhaib Salem / REUTERS)

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Fishermen unload their catch at Gaza Seaport on September 3. The enforced fishing layoff began on August 16 when Israel tightened its long-standing blockade of Gaza, grounding boats after an increase in incendiary balloons flown from Gaza into Israel in what it deemed a “continued violation of security stability,” Reuters reported. (Suhaib Salem / REUTERS)

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Fishermen show off their catch in the morning at Gaza Seaport after Israel allowed them back in the sea following the truce agreement on September 3. According to the World Food Programme, even before the virus more than two-thirds of Gaza residents were “food insecure,” citing the blockade as a key factor. (Mohammed Abed / AFP)

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A Palestinian girl wearing a face mask due to the Covid-19 pandemic, holds a fish at the seaport at Gaza Seaport on September 3. Amid old politics and a new pandemic the territory’s fish markets which have been virtually empty of late, are now expecting the return of Palestinians buying fresh sea bream and sardines. (Mohammed Abed / AFP)