“Khader al-Saidi lost his eyesight and sense of smell when Israeli navy forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets at his face while he was fishing in the sea off Gaza.
The 32-year-old was silent at first when The Electronic Intifada came to interview him.
His father, Marwan, had already cautioned that Khader may halt the interview at any moment.
Marwan filled the silence. He spoke of the family’s long history of making a living from fishing, of how his grandfathers used to fish the sea before him and how the 60-year-old’s own sons had followed in his footsteps.
Fishing is an integral part of Gaza’s culture, nutrition and economy. Israel’s routine attacks on fishers in Gaza continue to devastate the industry.
…This was Khader’s fifth arrest since he started fishing at 12 years old.”
Read more here:
How Israel stole this fisherman’s sight and sense of smell
Posters celebrating Khader al-Saidi’s release surround his home. /Abed ZagoutThe Electronic Intifada