Israeli navy arrests 7 Palestinian fishermen off Gaza coast

Israeli naval forces arrested seven Palestinian fishermen on Monday and sabotaged their boat off the Gaza coast, according to Palestinian sources.

Six of the arrested fishermen belong to the Gaza-based al-Hissy family, while the seventh one is Mahmoud Abu Ouda, according to Nizar Ayyash, chairman of the Palestinian Fishermen Association in Gaza.

Some 4,000 Palestinian fishermen live in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to the Fishermen's Syndicate in Gaza. At the same time, approximately 40,000 Gazans work in professions directly or indirectly related to fishing. 👇https://t.co/5LQZBxvHto

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) February 14, 2022

Ayyash told The New Arab that the Israeli naval forces continue in "their crimes against the Gazan fishermen" under the pretext that they did not have permits for fishing in the area.

The Israeli navy seeks to create more obstacles against the fishers to prevent them from working in the sea, mainly in the prosperous fishing season, he said.

"On such days, the fishers can collect various kinds of fish like sardines, salmon, squid, shrimp, bream and others, which means that they can gain more money," Ayyash said, adding that "It seems that this angers the Israelis."

He accused the occupation forces of deliberately reducing the fishing areas for Palestinian fishermen, by sabotaging their work and seizing boats and arresting the owners.

According to Ayyash, 4,000 Palestinian fishermen live in the besieged Gaza Strip. At the same time, approximately 40,000 Gazans work in professions directly or indirectly related to fishing.

The number of Israeli violations against fishermen in the Strip reached 333 in 2021, including shooting, arresting, and sabotaging fishing equipment.