During the morning of April 23, 2025, a fisherman was killed and others were injured on the seashore of Beit Lahia, near the Sudanese area in the North of Gaza, by an alleged Israeli shooting from a naval vessel stationed west of the al-Waha area.

The incident was widely reported on social media (News source, Alyawmnews, Al- thawrah News) and local sources identified the one person killed as Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Sultan, also known as Abdul Sheikh.

Al-Sultan was a 41-year-old fisherman killed while trying to provide food for his family. Indeed, on Facebook, Yosef Sultan, sharing a tribute to his cousin, explained that he had been struggling to provide for his wife and children and despite the dangers of the sea, chose to go fishing in the hope of earning a dignified living. Yosef portrayed his cousin’s story as a “living example” of the dangerous existence faced by many workers in Gaza, who continue to risk their lives amid devastating economic conditions. He mentioned that countless people have lost their jobs due to the ongoing war and the blockade on humanitarian aid. At the end, he expressed sorrow for his cousin’s death and prayed for patience for his family, wife and loved ones.

Many more resorted to social media to express their grief for the loss. Atef Sultan, on behalf of the Sultan family, offered condolences to the entire family as did the Facebook profile “the steadfastness of fishermen in Gaza is a victory.” Along with others, their words echoed the solemn phrase: “to God we belong and to Him we shall return.”

The farewell messages were accompanied by images of Mohammed. In one of them, a goateed Mohammed is seen wearing a red hat and t-shirt, striking a pose for a selfie. In the second image, he was dressed in a t-shirt, a cap and black sunglasses, and the picture was taken by the sea.

Regarding the wounded, no specific number has been confirmed. Most sources referred only to “a number” or “several others” without providing an exact figure. Airwars will update the incident should new information become available.

Mohammed’s name has been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) lists, which include national ID numbers. Airwars is matching individuals to the first list where their name appeared. In regard to this incident, names are matched to the ninth ‘Palestinian Ministry of Health List of Fatalities in Gaza’ list, which was released on June 23, 2025.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to Israeli forces.