Israeli boats open fire at Gaza fishermen

 

 

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli naval boats opened fire at fishermen off the coast of northern Gaza on Friday, witnesses said.

Locals said gunfire was heard from the shore of Gaza City as fishermen were at sea.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said "a few vessels deviated from the designated fishing zone" and naval forces fired warning shots in the air.

The boats then turned back, she added.

The Aug. 26 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian militant groups stipulated that Israel would immediately expand the fishing zone off Gaza's coast, allowing fishermen to sail as far as six nautical miles from shore, and would continue to expand the area gradually.

Since then, there have been widespread reports that Israeli forces have at times opened fire at fishermen within those new limits, and the zone has not been expanded.

IOF Arrests 12 Fishermen and Confiscates their Boats in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

06-12-2014

At approximately 6:30 pm on Saturday, 6 December 2014, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast west of Al Waha resort-near the maritime border- west of Beit Lahiya in North Gaza district.
The Israeli boats surrounded a number of Palestinian boats and arrested 10 fishermen.
Al Mezan has identified their names as follows: Ahmed Mohammed Zayed, 30; His brother Mahmoud, 29; Safwat Abdel Malek As-Sultan, 30; Sa’ed Zayed Zayed, 32; Yaser Othman Meqdad, 39; His brother Adham, 27; Bahaa Al Din Ziyad An-Najjar, 19; Mahmoud Nasser Mahfouz, 24; Sfiyan Ahmed Abu Msameh, 18; and Belal Izzat Abi Oda, 32.
The Israeli intensive firing forced fishermen to leave their nets in the sea and sailed immediately to the land.
As a result, Raed Saleh Abu Warda lost 8 pieces of fishing nets and Subhi Mohammed Sa’adallah lost 6 pieces of nets.
At approximately 9:00 pm on the same day, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Mohammed Ameen Abu Warda, 22, and his brother Yousif, 19, while they were in their boat trying to get their fishing net back.
According to eyewitnesses, seven Israeli boats surrounded the two fishermen and forced them to take off their clothes, jump to the sea, swim towards them and arrested them.
The IOF confiscated five fishing boats in the two incidents and 45 pieces of fishing nets and equipment.
It’s worth noting that the IOF opened fire at fishermen while they were 1.
5 nautical miles off the coast.