Medics say Israeli forces killed Gaza fisherman

Published Thursday 27/08/2009 (updated) 29/08/2009 08:37

Funeral for Al-Attar in Beit Lahiya [MaanImages]

Gaza – Ma'an – A Palestinian man was killed and another injured on Thursday when Israel's navy shelled a fishing boat just off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip, medical officials told Ma'an.

However an Israeli military spokesman denied the navy had anything to do with the incident. He said naval forces did not fire on the boat, nor otherwise cause the death of a man onboard.

But earlier Thursday Dr Mu'awiyah Hassanein, the director of emergency and ambulance services at Gaza's Health Ministry, said Israeli shells killed 25-year-old Muhammad Nady Al-Attar when his head was severed from his body.

One other fisherman was injured in the incident, which reportedly occurred while the two were fishing.

Al-Attar was buried later on Thursday after a funeral procession in his home town of Beit Lahiya.

posted on In Gaza on the 23rd of August

Thursday [13/8/2009]

Fishermen protest the on-going Israeli Occupation Forces naval attacks on fishermen. A crowd starts at the Fishing Syndicate near Gaza’s port and move on to the UN headquarters a few blocks away. The Israeli navy continues to shoot upon unarmed Palestinian fishermen; damage or destroy their boats, nets and equipment; moreover, they abduct fishermen. This abuse and the limits on fishing is destroying the fishing industry, one of the few sectors remaining in Gaza. While fishing yield is hardly profitable nowadays, many unemployed Palestinians have turned to it seeking the few shekels or fish they can bring in for their families.

*Israeli naval vessel dousing Palestinian fishing boat with high-powered, damaging water cannon. The Palestinian fishermen were fishing well-within the Oslo-allotted 20 nautical mile limit. [photo: David Schermerhorn, one of Free Gaza delegates Oct 31 2008]

PCHR report 13/8 - 19/8/2009: Israeli Navy opens fire at fishermen, one child at Rafah beach seriously wounded in the head. 2 fishermen arrested

This is an excerpt from PCHR weekly report No. 33/2009 13 - 19 August 2009 published on 20/8/2009

Friday, 14 August 2009

At approximately 18:00, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats opposite to Rafah beach. As a result, a Palestinian child, 12-year-old Mohammed Bassam 'Aashour, who was at the beach, was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head.

Tuesday, 18 August 2009

At approximately 06:00, two Israeli gunboats approached to within 500 meters of Rafah beach and arrested two Palestinian fishers: Mohammed Mahmoud Hassouna, 45; and his son Shihab, 18. They also confiscated the fishing boat. The two fishers were released at approximately 19:00.

Israeli Gunboat Arrest Two Palestinian Fishermen near Rafah's Beach

18-8-2009

Al Mezan

At approximately 6:00pm on Sunday 18 August 2009, Israeli gunboat opened heavy fire at Palestinian fishing boats at Rafah's coast. The Israeli marine forces arrested Mohammed Mahmoud Hasouna, 45, and his son Shihab, 18. Mohammed and his son were on their small fishing boat when the Israeli forces advanced in a rubber boat for approximately 500 meters from Rafah coast opposite the Swiss refugee village and arrested them. The reasons of arresting them is not quite clear, since their boat did not exceed the limited area previously assigned by the Israeli forces.

Gaza fishermen demonstrate at UN in protest of Israeli attacks on their livelihoods

13.08.09 - 20:41

Gaza / PNN – Fishermen in the Gaza Strip are the frequent targets of Israeli forces. Israeli naval ships sometimes open fire, or board boats, arrest the fishermen, even confiscate nets and the boats themselves.

Today in Gaza, Palestinian fishermen are demonstrating against the Israeli policies that are destroying their livelihood. The Palestinian fishing industry has lost millions in revenue since the siege began three years ago, that has led to a ban on exports of fish, imports of equipment, and an increase in attacks by the Israelis.

During the three-weeks of major Israeli attacks in late December and January the losses to the agriculture and fishing sector, for which statistics are combined, were 311,000 USD in those three weeks alone. The head of the Fishermen's Association, Nizar Ayash, reported as long ago as March of 2007 that losses incurred in the fishing sector due to Israeli practices amounted to 16 million dollars. There are approximately 3,000 Palestinians engaged in the fishing trade, which translates into 40,000 people living on that income.

Palestinian Legislative Council member and Chairman of the People’s Committee against the Blockade, Jamal Al Khudari, said today that Palestinian fishermen are maintaining their profession and their right to fish in the Sea of Gaza, despite the intense Israeli attacks. Under Article 11 of the Israeli-Palestinian Protocol, it is stipulated that Palestinian fishing boats have the right to go out 20 nautical miles from the coast in a specific region. The number has been reduced by the Israelis several times and is now down to three miles, yet still some fishermen on the shores face fire.

During a march on the United Nations headquarters in Gaza City, Al Khudari reiterated what a serious threat the fishermen and their families are under.

He said that by reducing the area allowed for Palestinian fishing in Gaza territorial waters from 15 to just three nautical miles, the occupying forces are contradicting signed agreements.

A call was issued to the international community to pressure the Israelis to abide international law and agreements, and to stop the harassment of the Palestinian fishing trade.

PCHR report 6/8-12/8/2009: 2 fishermen arrested later released

this is an excerpt from PCHR weekly report No. 32/2009 06 - 12 August 2009

Thursday, 06 August 2009

At approximately 06:00, two Israeli naval gunboats got as close as 600 meters away from Rafah beach in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli naval troop arrested two fishers: Ziad 'Abdul Karim Miqdad, 38; and 'Abdullah 'Abdul Karim Miqdad, 23. They took the two fishers to Ashdod Harbor inside Israel and interrogated them. The two fishers were released at approximately 17:00.

Gazan fishermen protest Israeli naval presence

Published yesterday (updated) 14/08/2009 12:09

Gaza – Ma’an – Dozens of Gazan fishermen called for an end to Israeli attacks on fishing boats and an end to the siege on the Strip in a protest outside of the UN headquarters in Gaza City Thursday.

The At-Tawfiq Institute, a fishers' rights group, organized the protest and called for an end to Israeli policing of Gaza’s coastal waters. Demonstrators held a large photo of fisherman Muhammad Jarbou, who was killed by Israeli forces while fishing.

Head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege Jamal Al-Khudari attended the event, and noted the loss of the fishing sector to the Gaza economy meant a loss of 3 million dollars a year. The Popular Committee was joined at the protest by members of the political bureau for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, including Jamil Al-Majdalawi, who called on the Palestinian government to protect the fishermen.

Israeli navy opens fire at Gazan fishermen

Israeli Air Force shells an area in Rafah

Monday August 10, 2009 10:01 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli Air force shelled the “Tunnels area” in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli Navy shelled areas across the Gaza Coast in what the Navy described as retaliation to homemade shells fired from Gaza.

File - Image news.gov.kw

The Israeli army stated that Palestinian fighters fired one homemade shell and two mortars.

Meanwhile, Israeli sources reported Monday that the army shelled a tunnel in Rafah, and claimed that the tunnel is used by gunmen to smuggle munitions into Gaza.

The sources added that the shell and mortars were the first’ attack’ against adjacent Israeli areas since July 16.

Also, one mortar shell was fired Monday morning at an area in the Western Negev causing no injuries.

A spokesperson of the Israeli Navy stated that navy boats fired ‘warning’ shots at Palestinian fishermen, and claimed that they entered a ‘restricted area’.

On Sunday evening, the Israeli Navy shelled Palestinian fishing boats north west of Gaza; no injuries were reported in both attacks.

Also on Sunday, opposition leader in Israel, Tzipi Livni of the Kadima party, called on the army to retaliate and shell Gaza.

Furthermore, the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the National Resistance Brigades, the armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), claimed responsibility for firing mortars at the Erez Crossing.

IOF Demarcate Gaza Marine Border in North Gaza with Lit up Buoys

27-7-2009

Al Mezan

In the morning hours on Monday 27 July 2007, IOF put two lit up buoys in the North Gaza sea. According to the field investigations, the signs are composed of a heavy metal block that was thrown into the sea and linked with an iron pillar ends with light. The first signs was put in one kilometer away from the coast of Beit Lahyia, in the sea and three kilometer away from the separation line. The second sign was put two kilometers away from the first sign. The two signs form a line demarcating a no-go zone for Palestinian fishermen, although the IOF have not commented on them.

PCHR report 30/7-5/8/2009

excerpt from PCHR weekly report No. 31/2009 30 July- 05 August 2009

Israeli forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishers along the Gaza Strip coast.

Wednesday, 05 August 2009

In the evening, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishers were forced to sail back to the beach. No casualties were reported.

Agha denounces IOF aggression on farmers and fishermen

[ 02/08/2009 - 10:18 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Agriculture minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Agha has denounced the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) for repeatedly attacking Palestinian farmers and their farms and fishermen and their boats in northern Gaza Strip. The minister, during a field visit to the northern areas, said that the IOF soldiers lately concentrated on burning crops in the Palestinian lands near the northern borders and shooting at farmers to prevent them from attending to their farms. A ministry press release on Sunday also quoted Agha as condemning the Israeli navy for establishing an isolation zone off the northern coasts along three kilometers prohibiting fishermen from fishing in this area.