Israeli warships wound a Palestinian south of Gaza

Please wait ... Gaza, June 6, 2009 (Ramattan) – A Palestinian citizen was wounded on Saturday as Israeli gunboats opened heavy fire at the southern coast of Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources said. Sources added that the 25-year-old Iyad Abd Rabo was moderately injured after the Israeli navy shot at Gaza shore near the city of Rafah south of Gaza. After the Israel's 22-day offensive on Gaza 4 months ago, the Israeli navy frequently opens fire at Gaza shore, targeting Gazan fishermen and their boats. ---------------------------------------------- From PCHR weekly report No. 23/2009 04 - 10 June 2009 Saturday, 06 June 2009 At approximately 05:00, IOF gunboats opened fire at fishing boats opposite Rafah beach in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, Eyad Khaled 'Abdul Nabi, 22, from Jabalya, was wounded by a bullet that hit his right arm and abdomen. His wound was described by medical sources as moderate to serious. 'Abdul Nabli was in the area for recreation.

Israeli warships open fire at fishing boats off Gaza coast

Date: 05 / 06 / 2009 Time: 11:30

Gaza – Ma’an – Israel's navy fired on boats off the short of Gaza City on Friday morning, but no damage or injuries were immediately reported.

Witnesses said the ships, which contribute to Israel's ongoing blockade of the besieged coastal strip, often open fire on vessels sailing near the coast, preventing a major source of income for Gaza's residents.

Israeli Piracy Continues Unabated - Six More Fishermen Abducted

Thursday 4th June 2009, Gazan territorial waters - At around 9 am, six Palestinian fishermen were abducted by the Israeli Navy whilst fishing in Palestinian territorial waters. The fishermen are reported as being;

Adham Al - Habil 21, Mohammed Al - Habil 20, Ahmed Al - Habil, Maher Abu Sultan 25, Mohammed Al - Arayshi, and Sadam Bakar.

The fishermen embarked from Gaza port at 8 am, in a trawling vessel owned by Abu Adham. At around 9 am when they were 3 miles from shore, and 0.5 km south of the "K" area (a designated no-fishing area in the Oslo Accords), they reported that an Israeli gun boat had approached, fired at them, and demanded that they turn of the boats engine. Communication with the fishermen was then lost.

It is believed that all of the fishermen have been abducted, and that their boat has been seized. Several fishermen that were recently abducted in similar circumstances, but have now been released, had reported that at the time of their abduction, the Israeli Navy threatened that "If we see Abu Adham's boat in the sea again, we'll seize it and arrest all the fishermen."

In the last few months, the Israeli Navy have escalated their campaign of persecution against the Palestinian fishermen. Of particular note is the recent spate of abductions. Since the declaration of a cease-fire in January of this year, and prior to today, 40 abductions of fishermen have been reported, and 17 fishing boats have been seized or stolen. About 10 of these boats have been returned but with damages and equipment missing.

Abu Adham's trawling boat was one of three boats seized by the Israeli Navy in November 2008. 15 of the fishermen aboard along with three members of the International Solidarity Movement were also abducted. Following a court case filed by PCHR, Al Mezan, and the ISM the 3 vessels were returned - although damaged and with equipment missing. On the 7th May 2009, one of these boats (belonging to Abu Rami) was again seized by the Israeli Navy and its crew abducted. Israel is refusing to return this boat. Along with Abu Adham's vessel, it now appears that two of the trawlers stolen by the Israeli Navy in November 2008, are again in Israeli hands.

ISM - Gaza Strip

Abu Adham's boat under attack by an Israeli Warship in September 2008 - Photo by Darlene Wallach

Gaza fishing boats surrounded by Israeli warships

Date: 04 / 06 / 2009 Time: 10:15

[ma'anImages]

Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli warships surrounded two fishing boats off the coast north of Gaza City on Thursday morning.

The boats belong to Omar Al-Habil and Omar Al-Hissi, according to sources in Gaza. No arrests or injuries have been reported.

There have been frequent reports of Israeli gunboats harassing Palestinian fishermen along the Gaza coast in recent weeks. In February Israel imposed a three-mile limit for Gaza fishermen, far short of the 20 miles guaranteed by the Oslo peace agreement.

Israeli warships shoot at Gazan fishermen, no injuries

Please wait ... Gaza, June 3, 2009 (Ramattan) - Israeli warships shot at Palestinian fishermen in the northern coast of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian security sources said. Sources reported that the Israeli navy opened heavy fire against a number of Gazan fishermen and their boats near Al-Sudaniya neighborhood north of Gaza, no injuries or damages were reported. The Israeli navy prevents Gazan fishermen to sail more than 3 miles into Gaza regional water, what makes it difficult to find the good fish. Earlier, Four Palestinians were injured as the Israeli army fired artillery shells north of the Gaza Strip. Yesterday, Israeli gunboats also opened heavy fire at Palestinian fishermen in the coast of Gaza without causing injuries or damages.

Health Day for Gazan Fishermen

The Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, has organized a day of free medical treatment for the Gazan fishermen at the offices of the Tawfiq Cooperative of Fishermen - Gaza Strip. The Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC) provided the doctors, nurses and the medicines.
The situation of Palestinian fishermen is critical because of the siege imposed by Israel and Egypt. According to the Oslo accords the Palestinian fishermen were allowed to fish up to 20 n. miles from the coast, but these limits were gradually reduced by the Israeli Navy to 12, then 6 and now after the recent massacres, to 3 n. miles. In fact the Palestinian fishermen are facing attacks by the Israeli Navy even a few meters from the coast. Since the declaration of the "ceasefire" there has been at least 5 fishermen wounded in the sea, 5 more reportedly injured on the shore, 40 abductions of fishermen, 17 "confiscations" of fishing boats, dozens of fishing boats damaged, fishing equipment stolen, lost during the attacks, or damaged. So practically the Palestinian fishermen are not allowed to practice their profession. In the meantime the price of fuel is getting higher every day, because of the siege. Subsequently the Palestinian fishermen are financially ruined and cannot afford to pay for their health care and have to wait for iniciatives like the one organized by the Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza and the UPMRC.

Video - Report: ISM Gaza Strip

Israeli navy opens fire at Gazan fishermen, no injuries

Please wait ... Gaza, June 2, 2009 (Ramattan) - Israeli gunboats opened heavy fire at Palestinian fishermen in the northern coast of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Palestinian security sources said. Sources reported that the Israeli navy targeted a number of Gazan fishermen and their boats near Al-Sudaniya neighborhood north of Gaza, no injuries or damages were reported. The Israeli warships frequently open fire at the coast of Gaza, targeting the Gazan fishermen and their boats. The Israeli navy imposes tightened measures on the Palestinian fishermen and prevents them to sail more than 3 miles into Gaza regional water, what makes it difficult to find the good fish.