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Beloved "Ofek" the Whale Shark Found Dead off Gaza Coast
17 Oct
Summary
- Whale shark "Ofek" died off the coast of Gaza on October 15, 2025
- Likely hunted by fishermen or washed ashore
- Previously spotted along the Mediterranean coastline
In a tragic turn of events, the whale shark known as "Ofek" was found dead off the coast of Gaza on October 15, 2025. The environmental conservation organization Sharks in Israel had been monitoring the whale shark's movements in the region for several weeks prior.
According to the organization, "Ofek" was likely hunted by fishermen from the Gaza Strip or washed ashore. Footage had previously shown crowds of Palestinians gathering around the massive creature, which was estimated to be around 10 meters long, as it was dragged along the shore by ropes.
The whale shark had been spotted in various locations along the Mediterranean coastline, including Ashdod, Ashkelon, Netanya, Bat Yam, and Tel Aviv, in the weeks leading up to its demise. A Gaza resident had even commented that the catch was a rare opportunity, as Israel had not allowed fishing in the area for two years prior.
