Saturday, June 1, 2013

Israeli Navel Vessels Open Fire towards Fishermen West of Gaza City

Al Mezan

1-6-2013

On Saturday, 1st June 2013, at approximately 3:30 pm, Israeli naval vessels opened fire at a distance of six nautical miles toward Palestinian fishing boats west of Gaza’s fishermen port, west of Gaza City. The Israeli boats used a water canon on one fishing boat, “Flouka”, which belonged to Eyad Rajab al Hissi, 35. The flooding caused damage to the boat and its equipment. According to his affidavit to Al Mezan, he al Hissi stated,
'while I was fishing with my son Rajab and my brother Mohammed on board “Flouka”, which is a boat fixed in the middle of the sea and surrounded with lights in order to gather fish, I saw an Israeli vessel moving westward and following other fishermen boats two kilometers far from our boat. The Israeli gunboats shortly opened fire. I was afraid as I saw the other boats moving in the direction of my boat and followed by the Israeli gunboat. Meanwhile, I moved with my son and brother to another boat which vastly headed us to the east where we stopped at a distance of 300 meters away from our boat “Flouka”. The Israeli gunboat approached the boat and I heard gunfire and saw the Israeli forces using a water canon. After about two minutes, the boat’s lights went out on Flouka and I was therefore unable to see the boat anymore. Twenty minutes later, the Israeli gunboat left the area as I rushed to find my boat, which appeared to have sunk completely. At that time, I called Adel Abu Riyala, an owner of a boat “Lansh”, who came to help me. We found the sunken vessel and using ropes pulled the boat up and towed it to Gaza Port'.
According Al Hissi, eight lights were damaged, two motors were lost in the sea and another motor was damaged. There was evidence of much gunfire used against the boat.

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