Egyptian naval ship fires at Gaza fishermen

Published Saturday 22/02/2014 (updated) 27/02/2014 18:07

 

Palestinian fishermen work Jan. 24, 2009 near the border with
Egypt (AFP/File, Said Khatib)

 

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- An Egyptian naval ship opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat off the coast of the southern Gaza Strip early Saturday, a Palestinian union official said.

Nizar Ayyash, spokesman for the union of Gaza fishermen, told Ma'an that the Egyptian navy fired warning shots at a fishing boat off the coast of Rafah.

The fishing boat was nearing Egyptian territorial waters, Ayyash said.

The Egyptian ship was stationed just within Palestinian territorial waters at the time, he added.

Ayyash said that the Gaza fishing boat sailed away after the warning shots were fired. No injuries were reported.

In August, Egyptian forces fired at Gaza fishermen, injuring two men and arresting six others.

Egypt-Gaza relations have deteriorated since the military ouster of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in July.

Palestinian fishermen are severely impacted by the Gaza Strip's political isolation. Israel imposes strict limitations on Gaza fishermen, regularly firing at boats that stray into what Israel's army calls "unauthorized fishing zones."

In the Oslo Accords, Israel agreed to a 20-nautical-mile fishing zone off Gaza's coast, but it has imposed a three-mile limit for several years.

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

There are 4,000 fishermen in Gaza. According to a 2011 report by the International Committee of the Red Cross, 90 percent are poor, an increase of 40 percent from 2008 and a result of Israeli limits on the fishing industry.

Israeli naval boats open fire at Gaza fishermen

Published Thursday 20/02/2014 (updated) 21/02/2014 13:42

 

(MaanImages/file)

 

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli naval boats on Thursday opened fire at Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Rafah in southern Gaza, witnesses said.

Fishermen in the boats jumped into the water following the incident, locals told Ma'an.

Gaza health official Ashraf al-Qidra confirmed that the fishermen survived the incident, without providing further details.

Israeli warships also opened fire at a military site formerly used by the Palestinian Authority's national security forces near Rafah.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said "Israeli naval forces identified two vessels suspected in smuggling making their way from the Gaza Strip to Egypt. Upon the return of the suspected vessels to the proximity of the strip the soldiers opened fire at them in order to thwart the attempt."

She added that "shore-based Palestinian terrorists" opened fire at the navy soldiers, causing damage to the vessel.

In the Oslo Accords, Israel agreed to a 20-nautical-mile fishing zone off Gaza's coast but it imposed a 3-mile limit for several years, opening fire at fishermen who strayed further.

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

Israeli navy detains 3 Gaza fishermen

Published today (updated) 11/02/2014 11:38

(MaanImages/File)

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained three fishermen off the coast of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip early Tuesday, witnesses said.

Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli warships stopped two fishing boats and arrested three fishermen at gunpoint. The boats and fishermen were taken to an unknown location.

One of the fishermen was identified as Fadil Sultan.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said two Palestinian boats entered a "prohibited fishing zone" early Tuesday.

After ordering the boats to stop and firing warning shots in their vicinity, the Israeli Navy took the fishermen in for questioning, the spokeswoman said.

Palestinian fishermen are only allowed to venture three nautical miles from Gaza's shore, though official Israeli-Palestinian agreements previously settled on 20 nautical miles.

Israeli naval forces frequently harass Palestinian fishermen who near the three-mile limit, as well as those inside the zone.

There are some 4,000 fishermen in Gaza. According to a 2011 report by the International Committee of the Red Cross, 90 percent are poor, a 40 percent increase from 2008 resulting from Israeli limits on the fishing industry.