Gazans turn to sea turtle meat, desperate for food amid war
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As war and blockade continue to grip the Gaza Strip, some families are turning to sea turtles as a last resort for sustenance, amid a growing humanitarian catastrophe.
With regular food sources dwindling after 18 months of conflict and an Israeli blockade on aid supplies since March 2, sea turtles - normally protected as endangered species - have become a rare source of protein for residents in the war-ravaged territory.
In Khan Yunis, the largest city in southern Gaza, 61-year-old Majida Qanan has cooked turtle meat for her family three times. Living in a tent after being displaced by the fighting, she says it's the only meat they can find.
“The children were afraid of the turtle, and we told them it tasted like veal,” Qanan shared, watching over chunks of turtle meat boiling with onions, pepper, tomatoes, and spices. “Some ate it, but others refused.”
Food scarcity in Gaza has reached alarming levels.
According to the United Nations, 2.4 million residents are facing famine-like conditions. The heads of a dozen major humanitarian organisations warned that famine is now “likely rapidly unfolding” across almost the entire strip.
“There are no open crossings and nothing in the market,” said Qanan. “When I buy two small bags of vegetables for 80 shekels (about $22), there’s no meat available.”
Fisherman Abdel Halim Qanan echoed her desperation: “We never thought we’d eat turtles, but there is no food - no meat, poultry, or vegetables. Turtle meat is a last resort.”
The turtles are caught in fishing nets, and though they are globally protected, they are being killed and consumed in accordance with Islamic halal practices. “If there wasn’t a famine, we wouldn’t touch them. But we need to make up for the lack of protein,” he explained.
The World Health Organization reported in June that some Gazans were eating animal feed and grass, and even drinking sewage water to survive.
The conflict, which erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, has only paused twice - briefly in late November and during a ceasefire from January to mid-March. Israel claims Hamas is obstructing aid deliveries, while Hamas accuses Israel of using starvation as a weapon against the population.
