Friday, August 14, 2009

Gazan fishermen protest Israeli naval presence


Published yesterday (updated) 14/08/2009 12:09

Gaza – Ma’an – Dozens of Gazan fishermen called for an end to Israeli attacks on fishing boats and an end to the siege on the Strip in a protest outside of the UN headquarters in Gaza City Thursday.

The At-Tawfiq Institute, a fishers' rights group, organized the protest and called for an end to Israeli policing of Gaza’s coastal waters. Demonstrators held a large photo of fisherman Muhammad Jarbou, who was killed by Israeli forces while fishing.

Head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege Jamal Al-Khudari attended the event, and noted the loss of the fishing sector to the Gaza economy meant a loss of 3 million dollars a year. The Popular Committee was joined at the protest by members of the political bureau for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, including Jamil Al-Majdalawi, who called on the Palestinian government to protect the fishermen.