Gaza fishermen report Israeli naval fire

GAZA (Ma’an) -- Israeli war boats opened fire on Gazan fishing boats on Friday, as they were hauling their catch in the central and southern coastal districts, witnesses reported.

Officials said no injuries had been reported, while witnesses said the fire forced the small vessels leave the waters, heading north or back to shore.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said she was unable to confirm the report, but added that "when fishing boats deviate from their designated area, Israeli naval forces will fire warning shots toward them."

In September, one fisherman was killed when Israeli ships enforcing the naval blockade of the coastal enclave opened fire at his vessel.

Gaza fishermen say ever-tightening restrictions on where they can fish, frequent attacks by Israeli gunboats and an economic blockade in place since 2007 are putting more and more of them out of business.

In 2008, the fishing limit imposed by the Israeli military was cut from six nautical miles to just three. Under the Oslo peace accords, a 20 nautical mile fishing limit was set in 1995.

Israeli Gunboats Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats in Middle Gaza District

25-10-2010

Al Mezan

At app. 7am on Monday 25 October 2010, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Deir Al Balah town, in Middle Gaza district. The shooting lasted for about two hours. The fishermen were terrified and quit their fishing.

On Sunday 24 October 2010, the Israeli naval vessels opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Az-Zawaida village and Az-Zahra town, also in Middle Gaza district

IOF troops advance in southern Gaza, as navy destroys fishing boat

[ 25/10/2010 - 09:28 AM ]

KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided eastern Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, at dawn Monday amidst random firing, local sources told the PIC. They added that four IOF armored vehicles advanced tens of meters in citizens' land east of Khan Younis and bulldozed the land amidst indiscriminate firing with no casualties reported. IOF warplanes had broken the sound barrier over the Gaza Strip on Sunday evening causing big noise and spreading panic especially in lines of children and women. PIC reporter said that the act was sudden, noting that it followed intensive flight of reconnaissance planes. Meanwhile, the reporter said that Israeli navy gunboats shelled and destroyed a Palestinian fishing boat off the central Gaza Strip coast. The reporter, who was at scene of the incident, said that the boat was completely destroyed but no casualties were reported. In the West Bank the IOF soldiers detained 11 Palestinian citizens at dawn Monday  in the districts of Bethlehem, Al-Khalil, and Qalqilia.

PCHR weekly report 7/10 - 13/10/2010: attacks offshore Beit Lahia

extracts from PCHR weekly report 7/10 - 13/10/2010

during the reporting period, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in two separate incidents in the northern Gaza Strip. 

Sunday, 10 October 2010

At approximately 06:45, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. No casualties were reported. 

 Monday, 11 October 2010

At approximately 07:15, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. No casualties were reported. 

Israeli Gunboats Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats on An-Nuseirat Coast

7-10-2010

Al Mezan

At app. 4pm on Thursday 7 October 2010, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats on the coast of the An-Nuseirat refugee camp in Middle Gaza district. The fishermen on these boats were terrified and left the sea quickly. 

In his affidavit to Al Mezan, one of the fishermen said that 'at approximately 4pm on Thursday 7 October 2010, my brother and I went to the sea to fish. We sailed for about one nautical mile inside the sea. I saw Palestinian fishing boats and there were four Israeli gunboats west of them. I recognized the Israeli boats from the weapons and transmission equipment installed on them. I head gun fire. I saw the Palestinian boats stopped. Fishermen could not continue their fishing due to the fire. I dropped the fishing nets in the sea and left the area back to the boats harbor.'

Fishermen reported that the Israeli occupation forces usually attack them and that such attacks increase during the fishing seasons (September to November; and March to May).