The Israeli naval forces on Thursday wounded three Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip while they were working at a distance of three miles from the northern shore of the besieged coastal enclave, The New Arab reported.
Zakaria Baker, an official from the fishers’ committees in the Union of Agricultural Work Committees in the Gaza Strip, told The New Arab that Israeli gunboats opened fire on a group of fishermen while they were sailing north of the Gaza Strip.
#Breaking: Israeli occupation naval forces targeted Palestinian fishermen with heavy fire, injuring three and destroying the engine of one fishing boat, while sailing off the shore of northern #Gaza Strip, local sources reported. pic.twitter.com/vN3FHrk2u1
— Wafa News Agency – English (@WAFANewsEnglish) June 16, 2022
He said that the three injured, who are from one family, were taken to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City to receive the necessary treatment, and described their injuries as “moderate”.
Baker condemned the repeated shootings and arrests of fishermen, accusing the Israeli navy of doing their best to pressure the local fishermen to refrain from going into the sea and doing their work.
“The Israeli navy deliberately obstructs the fishermen’s work through continuous attacks on them and shooting at their boats,” the head of the Syndicate of Palestinian Fishermen, Nizar Ayyash, said to The New Arab.
Three Palestinian fishermen were taken to hospital for treatment after the Israeli navy had targeted them with rubber-coated steel bullets in the sea of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/qIt6GNbe89
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) June 16, 2022
Despite the improved facilities that the Gaza Strip is witnessing, the official adds, the fishermen are still suffering from the continuous Israeli violations, which are increasing on a daily basis.
Israel imposes strict restrictions on the work of fishermen off the Mediterranean coast, claiming to combat smuggling attempts by sea as part of its blockade imposed on the Strip since mid-2007.
Israeli navy opened fire on Palestinian fishermen's boats off the Gaza sea injuring three fishermen. pic.twitter.com/GoSRweKNIk
— Ahmed Shameya (@Ahmedwsh95) June 16, 2022
Fishing is one of the biggest industries in the coastal enclave, home to some 2.3 million Palestinians.
Israel maintains a land, air, and sea blockade of Gaza, effectively besieging the Palestinian territory. Boats are not allowed to stray beyond a fixed limit to the north towards Israel and Egypt keeps similar limitations to the south-west.
(The New Arab, PC, Social Media)
