Enjoying the sound of the calm waves of the Gaza sea Atif Baroud Abu Ayman lays next to his younger brother Ahmed on the sea sands as he starts a small fire to make a cup of tea.
Atif Baroud 48 sits next to his fishing rod practicing his favorite and beloved hobby … fishing.
The fisherman begins by placing the worms he has collected from the beach as a bait for the fish he is trying to catch in the hope that it will be a delicious dinner for his family.
The only entertainment in Gaza
From the outskirts of the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip Baroud goes almost daily to the seashore which is the only available entertainment for him in particular and for the people of the Gaza Strip in general.
The residents of the Gaza Strip suffer from difficult economic and living conditions sometimes forcing them to give up the necessities of life where the seashore serves as a relief for them from the pains of life according to Baroud.
As soon as Baroud arrives at the beach in the evening he begins his fishing hobby taking advantage of the quietness of the place and the departure of holidaymakers who leave the beach at the same time.
“The sea and fishing occupy my mind and steal my heart and they are part of my soul because they give the fisherman a renewed life every day and a huge energy” Baroud told the Palestinian Information Center.
From time to time Abu Ayman starts looking at his black-and-white fishing rod to see if it caught a big fish and if not he returns the small fish to the water.
Releasing negative energy
He speaks of his intention: “I always come to the beach to relieve the pressures of life and to release some of the negative energy that fills our bodies due to the ever-increasing worries.”
Abu Ayman catches a variety of fish during the course of his journey such as European bass Umbrina cirrosa Pompanos Syngnathus Gilt-head bream and Sand Steenbras.
Baroud picked up a 50 cm long fish known as Pompanos which is rarely caught by a rod.
Nearby a number of his friends sat down to have some tea before they continue their journey to find a place where they could enjoy their hobby.
Many in Gaza prefer to spend hours catching fish with a number of friends and relatives after choosing a suitable place on the beach hoping to have a grilled fish be it Sardines Sand Steenbras or Pumps.
As soon as Baroud ends his fishing hobby he moves on to his second hobby: swimming where he is used to doing these activities while at the beach.
He concluded by saying: “I love swimming and I love fishing during which I can forget the worries and problems of life and overcome them” hoping that these difficult circumstances of the people in besieged Gaza will end soon.
