Israeli forces detain Gaza fishermen

A local official told Ma'an that Israeli naval forces detained 8 men.

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Israel's navy detained a group of fishermen off the coast of Gaza on Sunday morning, the army said.

Local official Mahfouth al-Kabareeti told Ma'an that Israeli naval forces detained eight men.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that navy forces fired at the engine of a Palestinian fishing boat after it had deviated from the designated fishing area.

No injuries were reported and the boat was transferred to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The fishermen were transferred to the custody of security forces, the spokeswoman added.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed on a 20-nautical-mile fishing zone off Gaza's coast under the Oslo Accords, but Israel unilaterally imposes a 3-mile limit. Israeli warships frequently open fire at boats that allegedly stray from the permitted area.

Fishermen say the limits have destroyed their livelihood and that it is impossible to trawl a large catch within the designated area.

Israel has controlled Gaza waters since its occupation of the area in 1967, and has kept several warships stationed off the coast since 2008.

Israel detains Gaza fishermen

 

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Tuesday detained fishermen working off the coast of the Gaza Strip.

Local official Mahfouth al-Kabareeti told Ma'an that Israeli naval forces detained Nader Yousef Abu Simaan, 22, and his brother Hasan at sea and confiscated their equipment. The brothers, from al-Shati refugee camp, were fishing within the area designated by Israel, he added.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said forces detained fishermen from Gaza because they deviated from the designated fishing area.

They were transferred to the custody of security forces, she said. She could not immediately specify how many fishermen were detained.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed on a 20-nautical-mile fishing zone off Gaza's coast under the Oslo Accords, but Israel unilaterally imposes a 3-mile limit. Israeli warships frequently open fire at boats that allegedly stray from the permitted area.

Fishermen say the limits have destroyed their livelihood and that it is impossible to trawl a large catch within the designated area.

Israel has controlled Gaza waters since its occupation of the area in 1967, and has kept several warships stationed off the coast since 2008.

Gaza Fishermen Under Siege

16 April 2012. In the early evening i met the fishermen at the Gaza port. As the sun began to set we headed to the sea. It was a beautiful clear evening, the sun was beginning to set and gentle swells rocked the boat. Not only were we fishing, but we would challenge the arbitrary 3 mile limit imposed by Israel on all boats in Gazan waters.

PCHR weekly report 5/4 - 11/4/2012: 3 attacks of the Israeli Navy

extracts from PCHR weekly report 5/4 - 11/4/2012:

IOF continued to fire at Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip. 

[...]

Israeli gunboats also opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip 3 times.  


[...]


Friday, 06 April 2012


At approximately 06:00, Israeli gunboats stationed to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and neither casualties nor damage were reported. 

Saturday, 07 April 2012 


Also at approximately 06:00, Israeli gunboats stationed to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and neither casualties nor damage were reported.

Sunday, 08 April 2012  


At approximately 06:30, Israeli gunboats stationed to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and neither casualties nor damage were reported.

Israel opens fire at fishing boat off Gaza coast

 

Fishermen work at the port of Gaza City. (MaanImages/Mohamed al-Zanon, File)

 

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Friday opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat off the coast of the northwestern Gaza Strip.

Witnesses said the gunfire caused the boat to sink, with no injuries reported.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the vessel "deviated from the designated fishing area" and that naval forces fired warning shots at the boat's engine after it failed to respond to calls to turn back.

After shots were fired, the boat returned to the designated fishing area and did not sink, she said.

Under Israel's maritime blockade, Palestinians are forbidden from fishing more than three nautical miles from the coast.

During the Oslo accords, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators had agreed on 20 nautical miles of fishing access along Gaza's coastline.

The Gaza-based Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights says Israel detained 40 fishermen, injured five others and seized nine boats in 2011.

IOF Opens Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats near Northern Maritime Border

Al Mezan

13-4-2012

At approximately 6:00 am on Friday 13 April 2012, gunboats of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) navy opened fire at Palestinian fishing vessels to the west of the Al Waha area, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.  No casualties were reported.

VIDEO: Israely navy shooting at fishing boat, 5 April 2012, GAZA

On April 5, 2012, me and Derek sailed again on a trawler with the fishermen during the night.
We were at about 100/150 meters away from the 3 miles limit.
The Israeli nave came quickly and started creating waves and shooting.
We had to came back at about 2 miles offshores.

Restrictions on the fishing zone are of extreme significance to Palestinian livelihoods. This area was supposed to be 20 miles according to the Jericho agreements from 1994 (under the Oslo accords), then it was reduced to 12 miles, to 6 miles and now to 3 miles since January 2009.
The marine 'buffer zone' restricts Gazan fishermen from accessing 85% of Gaza's fishing waters agreed to by Oslo.
Israel has been regularly attacking Palestinian fishermen within the purported 3 nautical mile fishing limit.
The livelihood of many Gazans relies on fishing and Israel has been using live ammunition and water cannons to prevent fishermen from doing their work.
The Israeli Siege continues after more than 4 years, limiting the sea area available for the Gaza population.

Israel navy 'opens fire at Gaza fishing boat'

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Israel's navy fired live ammunition at a fishing boat in the Gaza Strip on Monday, witnesses said.

Several shells were fired into open areas off the Gaza coast, locals told Ma'an.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said that a fishing boat had deviated from the designated fishing area, and after failing to respond to orders to return, warning shots were fired.

No hits were identified and the boat returned to the designated fishing area, she added.

Under Israel's maritime blockade, Palestinians are forbidden from fishing more than three nautical miles from the coast.

During the Oslo accords negotiators had agreed on 20 nautical miles of fishing access along Gaza's coastline.

In December, the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said Israel has detained 40 fishermen, injured five others and seized nine boats since the start of 2011.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

9-4-2012

At approximately 6:00 am on Monday 9 April 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district.  No casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats near the Maritime Borders in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

8-4-2012

At approximately 6:30 am on Sunday 8 April 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district.  No casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats near the Maritime Borders in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

7-4-2012

At approximately 6:00 am on Saturday 7 April 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district.  No casualties or injuries were reported.