Skip to main content

How rotten fish became a favorite delicacy in Gaza

On the first day of Eid al-Fitr, Gazans buy and eat a salted and fermented fish called fesikh, which has a long tradition in the Gaza Strip.
saltfish.jpg
Read in 

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Gazans have become accustomed to eating salted fish such as fesikh on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan. Different types of fesikh are sold in the market during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Gazans believe that fesikh detoxifies the stomach because it contains large amounts of salt, which they believe is beneficial after a month of fasting. The women, who wait for their husbands and sons to return home from the Eid al-Fitr prayer in the early morning, fry the fish with garlic and tomatoes, the smell of which fills the alleys, streets and towns in the Gaza Strip.

Fisherman Ismael al-Amoudi said this popular dish dates back to the 1960s when the Egyptians ruled Gaza. At the time, he said, Palestinian fishermen from Gaza would fish with their Egyptian counterparts in Egyptian waters.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.