On the morning of Saturday, May 3, 2025, Israeli warships allegedly fired on a fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea, west of the al-Baidar area, killing 66-year-old fisherman Ramadan Hassan Zidane and injuring another man on board, Ahmed Ahmed Zidane.
The incident was reported by several social media accounts, including Palestine Today TV Channel and Msdr News. Most of these sources stated that Ahmed Ahmed Zidane was moderately injured. However, a few Facebook posts, including one by journalist Saher Al-Aqraa, described his injuries as severe. All sources reported Ramadan Hassan Zidane’s death.
While some sources reported airstrikes, many sources pointed to a naval bombardment. Notably, the Fishermen’s Syndicate of the Gaza Strip, declared that Israeli warships fired a total of two shells at the victim’s boat. The deceased’s son also believed his father was “targeted by naval vessels.” In a post, Zakaria Baker pointed out that the boat was hit while the two men were working. According to Facebook user Abu Alaa El-Din Tafesh, Ramadan Hassan Zidane’s body was “recovered from the sea” in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, in the Central Gaza Strip.
Relatives of the deceased were quick to share mourning messages on social media following the incident. “My father is a martyr, may God have mercy on him,” wrote Ramadan Hassan’s son, Zizo Mohamed Zidane. “May God have mercy on you and make your abode in heaven and the highest paradise, my father.” His Facebook post included a photo of his father, who is wearing a light purple shirt, with his head down, reading.
Ramadan’s daughter-in-law expressed deep sorrow on her Facebook account, Kafa Kafa: “Our great one has passed away. We have no support left, Abu Ramadan.” She also dedicated heartfelt words to her husband, Zizo Mohamed: “May God be with you, protect you, and ease your suffering, my heart.” An earlier post she shared included a photo of Ramadan Hassan, wearing gloves and a long-sleeved red-and-blue striped shirt, sitting on the beach beside a full fishing net. “Oh my uncle, how difficult it is to be separated from you,” she lamented.
Bliss Ibn Al-Muqanna also posted a mourning message on Facebook. He regretted the death of “our uncle,” who was “assassinated” in the middle of the sea while “searching for a living.” “We ask God Almighty to have mercy on him, to grant him a spacious place in heaven, and to inspire his family and relatives with patience and solace,” he concluded.
Ramadan’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 the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.