GAZA FISHERMENS SURVIVE FROM ISRAELI GUNFIRE

Gaza, 19 Shafar 1435/22 December 2013 (MINA) – Three Palestinian fishermen survived gunfire coming from an Israeli watchtower to the west of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, local media reported.

Eyewitnesses said the fishermen were approaching the border with the pre-1948 Palestine areas when the Israeli military fired at them. The fishermen fled the area without being injured, they added.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Israeli occupation gunboats opened fire towards Palestinian fishermen on board their boats in northern Gaza Strip, Alray Media Agency reported as quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

Israeli violations against Gaza fishermen have not stopped since early 2013. Most recently, Israeli gunboats opened fire on 27 November at Palestinian fishing boats which were a nautical mile away off the Gaza port west of Rafah city.

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According to stats issued by Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights in November 2013, Israeli occupation navy carried out 132 attacks violations against fishermen since the beginning of 2013.

Israeli forces arrested 18 Palestinian fishermen, injured eight, confiscated seven boats, and unidentified number of fishing nets were destroyed in seven incidents, the NGO said in a report.

On December 19, Israeli navy gunboats also fired a number of shells at the shores of Gaza city at a late night hour on Wednesday.

Field sources said that the Israeli gunboats, which are permanently present off the Gaza shores, fired four projectiles to the northwest of Gaza beach, but did not cause any casualties or damage.

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The shelling is the latest in a series of Israeli breaches of the calm agreement, concluded between Palestinian factions in Gaza and the Israeli occupation authority under Egyptian sponsorship in November last year.(T/P012/P04)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)