20 feb 2016
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday morning opened its machinegun fire at Palestinian farmers in the Gaza Strip, with no reported casualties.
A local source told Quds Press that Israeli border soldiers opened fire from their military posts at farmers working their lands east of Gaza City and al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central district.
The source added that the farmers escaped unhurt from the areas which came under fire.
The eastern borderline of Gaza also saw unusual Israeli military moves and drone overflights, according to eyewitnesses. The Israeli army violates the 2014 ceasefire agreement in Gaza almost on a daily basis.
A local source told Quds Press that Israeli border soldiers opened fire from their military posts at farmers working their lands east of Gaza City and al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central district.
The source added that the farmers escaped unhurt from the areas which came under fire.
The eastern borderline of Gaza also saw unusual Israeli military moves and drone overflights, according to eyewitnesses. The Israeli army violates the 2014 ceasefire agreement in Gaza almost on a daily basis.
19 feb 2016
At least seven Palestinian youths were injured Friday evening after Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire at them on the borders of Gaza.
A spokesman for the Health Ministry affirmed that four youths were injured north of Gaza, three of them were shot with live rounds while the fourth suffered rubber bullet injury.
Three other young men suffered live shot injuries in Sheja'eya neighborhood east of Gaza. Since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada, weekly marches have been organized in Gaza Strip in protest at the Israeli excessive use of force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Israeli navy forces on Friday opened machine gun fire at Beit Lahiya shores north of the Gaza Strip, eyewitnesses told Quds Press. No casualties were reported during the shooting attack, the sources added. Palestinian fishermen were prevented from their right to work for fear of Israeli attacks.
Since the signing of the calm agreement in August 2014, Israeli forces carried out numerous violations and attacks against Gaza Strip.
A spokesman for the Health Ministry affirmed that four youths were injured north of Gaza, three of them were shot with live rounds while the fourth suffered rubber bullet injury.
Three other young men suffered live shot injuries in Sheja'eya neighborhood east of Gaza. Since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada, weekly marches have been organized in Gaza Strip in protest at the Israeli excessive use of force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Israeli navy forces on Friday opened machine gun fire at Beit Lahiya shores north of the Gaza Strip, eyewitnesses told Quds Press. No casualties were reported during the shooting attack, the sources added. Palestinian fishermen were prevented from their right to work for fear of Israeli attacks.
Since the signing of the calm agreement in August 2014, Israeli forces carried out numerous violations and attacks against Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian died of wounds he sustained last week after setting himself on fire in the Gaza Strip, medical sources announced on Friday evening.
The man, identified only by his initials as I.A., suffered from severe burns after attempting suicide by pouring flammable material on himself and setting himself ablaze at the Bani Suheila roundabout in the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis .
He was taken to the Nasir hospital for treatment, only to succumb to his wounds days later.
The reasons behind the man’s suicide were unknown, but the Gaza Strip has seen a surge in suicides due to the increasingly unbearable living conditions in the besieged enclave.
It is impossible to obtain official figures on the number of suicides in the Gaza Strip due to the taboo nature of the topic. However, a source within the security services told AFP in September that the number of cases were "frightening," saying there were suicide attempts on a "near-daily" basis.
The UN has warned that unless current trends are altered, Gaza could become uninhabitable for residents in just five years. The difficult living conditions are largely due to the nearly nine-year Israeli blockade, as well as the destruction caused by several violent Israeli offensives in the enclave in the past decade..
"The social, health and security-related ramifications of the high population density and overcrowding are among the factors that may render Gaza unlivable by 2020," the UN's development agency said last year.
The man, identified only by his initials as I.A., suffered from severe burns after attempting suicide by pouring flammable material on himself and setting himself ablaze at the Bani Suheila roundabout in the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis .
He was taken to the Nasir hospital for treatment, only to succumb to his wounds days later.
The reasons behind the man’s suicide were unknown, but the Gaza Strip has seen a surge in suicides due to the increasingly unbearable living conditions in the besieged enclave.
It is impossible to obtain official figures on the number of suicides in the Gaza Strip due to the taboo nature of the topic. However, a source within the security services told AFP in September that the number of cases were "frightening," saying there were suicide attempts on a "near-daily" basis.
The UN has warned that unless current trends are altered, Gaza could become uninhabitable for residents in just five years. The difficult living conditions are largely due to the nearly nine-year Israeli blockade, as well as the destruction caused by several violent Israeli offensives in the enclave in the past decade..
"The social, health and security-related ramifications of the high population density and overcrowding are among the factors that may render Gaza unlivable by 2020," the UN's development agency said last year.
18 feb 2016
Three young brothers were injured Thursday evening in an explosion of an ordnance in Beit Hanoun town north of the Gaza Strip.
The three injured were immediately taken to hospital for treatment, while police forces rushed to the area and opened an investigation into the incident, local sources said.
Earlier last month, UNRWA revealed that 70% of explosive remnants of Israel's war on Gaza in 2014 are estimated to remain in the Gaza Strip and pose a threat to the population of Gaza.
One year after the summer hostilities of 2014, more than 7,000 explosive remnants of Israel’s summer war are estimated to remain in the Gaza Strip, according to UNRWA’s report. "Since the beginning of 2014 summer’s hostilities, 16 people have been killed and 90 wounded, including 38 children, due to contact with these unexploded remnants,'' the report said.
The three injured were immediately taken to hospital for treatment, while police forces rushed to the area and opened an investigation into the incident, local sources said.
Earlier last month, UNRWA revealed that 70% of explosive remnants of Israel's war on Gaza in 2014 are estimated to remain in the Gaza Strip and pose a threat to the population of Gaza.
One year after the summer hostilities of 2014, more than 7,000 explosive remnants of Israel’s summer war are estimated to remain in the Gaza Strip, according to UNRWA’s report. "Since the beginning of 2014 summer’s hostilities, 16 people have been killed and 90 wounded, including 38 children, due to contact with these unexploded remnants,'' the report said.
The Israeli occupation navy on early Thursday morning opened heavy machinegun fire on Gaza’s shores, at the same time as an army patrol rolled into the Strip’s eastern borders.
An on-the-spot observer said Israeli occupation gunboats unleashed eight mortar shells on al-Zahraa shores, in central Gaza Strip.
The shells exploded on the beach. No fatalities have been reported.
The attack came at a time when several army jeeps launched a limited incursion into eastern Wadi Gaza area, in central Gaza Strip. A flock of Israeli warplanes also carried out a series of mock-raids across Gaza sky while Israeli drones kept incessantly hovering over the territory.
Palestinian fishermen have been the permanent targets of Israeli gunboats despite the fact that they have been setting sail within the six-nautical-mile zone agreed upon in the latest truce deal. Several Palestinians were killed or injured and others have had their boats damaged in similar attacks.
The assault is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire accord struck in the wake of the 2014 Israeli offensive on the besieged coastal enclave.
An on-the-spot observer said Israeli occupation gunboats unleashed eight mortar shells on al-Zahraa shores, in central Gaza Strip.
The shells exploded on the beach. No fatalities have been reported.
The attack came at a time when several army jeeps launched a limited incursion into eastern Wadi Gaza area, in central Gaza Strip. A flock of Israeli warplanes also carried out a series of mock-raids across Gaza sky while Israeli drones kept incessantly hovering over the territory.
Palestinian fishermen have been the permanent targets of Israeli gunboats despite the fact that they have been setting sail within the six-nautical-mile zone agreed upon in the latest truce deal. Several Palestinians were killed or injured and others have had their boats damaged in similar attacks.
The assault is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire accord struck in the wake of the 2014 Israeli offensive on the besieged coastal enclave.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) carried out a limited incursion into the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday morning, locals said.
Four bulldozers moved from Kissufim military post and bulldozed border lands east of Qarara town, east of Khan Younis, while combing the area, witnesses said.
A number of tanks were stationed behind the sand dunes in order to provide protection for the bulldozers amid overflights of drones and helicopters.
Four bulldozers moved from Kissufim military post and bulldozed border lands east of Qarara town, east of Khan Younis, while combing the area, witnesses said.
A number of tanks were stationed behind the sand dunes in order to provide protection for the bulldozers amid overflights of drones and helicopters.
17 feb 2016
The Israeli occupation army launched on Wednesday morning a limited incursion into Palestinian lands in eastern al-Bureij refugee camp, in central Gaza Strip and built sand barriers along the border area.
Local sources said an Israeli army bulldozer and a tank moved dozens of meters across the border fence in eastern al-Bureij refugee camp.
The bulldozers raked through the area, leveled Palestinian lands, and pitched a series of sand barriers along the borders between Gaza and 1948 Occupied Palestine.
The incursion is the latest in a series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire accord signed in the wake of the 2014 offensive on the besieged coastal enclave.
Local sources said an Israeli army bulldozer and a tank moved dozens of meters across the border fence in eastern al-Bureij refugee camp.
The bulldozers raked through the area, leveled Palestinian lands, and pitched a series of sand barriers along the borders between Gaza and 1948 Occupied Palestine.
The incursion is the latest in a series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire accord signed in the wake of the 2014 offensive on the besieged coastal enclave.
16 feb 2016
The UN Secretary General’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov arrived in Gaza on Tuesday afternoon via the Beit Hanun (Erez) crossing.
The local news agency SAFA quoted what it called “special sources” as saying that Mladenov inspected progress in the reconstruction projects in Shujaiya suburb, east of Gaza City.
The agency said that the UN envoy would address a press conference at noon Wednesday that would tackle the issue of reconstructing houses, buildings, and facilities destroyed by the Israeli aggression on the coastal enclave in summer 2014.
The local news agency SAFA quoted what it called “special sources” as saying that Mladenov inspected progress in the reconstruction projects in Shujaiya suburb, east of Gaza City.
The agency said that the UN envoy would address a press conference at noon Wednesday that would tackle the issue of reconstructing houses, buildings, and facilities destroyed by the Israeli aggression on the coastal enclave in summer 2014.
A human rights report released Monday denied Israeli claims on easing restrictions on the blockaded Gaza Strip.
A report by the Palestinian Human Rights Center on the situation of Gaza’s border-crossings in January 2016 warned of Israel’s attempts to institutionalize the siege imposed on Gaza for the 10th year running, in a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws.
The report kept record of ongoing restrictions on the import of basic products and goods, along with reconstruction materials.
The center also pointed out Israel’s closure of the Karem Abu Salem commercial crossing for 10 days (amounting to 32.2% of the month).
Restrictions on Gaza’s exports to the occupied West Bank and 1948 Occupied Palestine were also documented by the study. Gaza’s exports during the month of January have been estimated at 6% only of the overall export rate before June 2007, when the siege was not yet imposed.
The report documented the difficulties in Palestinians’ access out of and into blockaded Gaza via the Beit Hanun border crossing. Such Israeli restrictions blocked the movement of two million Gazans.
The center called on the international community and the parties involved in the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to immediately step in and urge the Israeli occupation to lift the siege and open the border crossings before Gaza’s stranded passengers and humanitarian cases.
A report by the Palestinian Human Rights Center on the situation of Gaza’s border-crossings in January 2016 warned of Israel’s attempts to institutionalize the siege imposed on Gaza for the 10th year running, in a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws.
The report kept record of ongoing restrictions on the import of basic products and goods, along with reconstruction materials.
The center also pointed out Israel’s closure of the Karem Abu Salem commercial crossing for 10 days (amounting to 32.2% of the month).
Restrictions on Gaza’s exports to the occupied West Bank and 1948 Occupied Palestine were also documented by the study. Gaza’s exports during the month of January have been estimated at 6% only of the overall export rate before June 2007, when the siege was not yet imposed.
The report documented the difficulties in Palestinians’ access out of and into blockaded Gaza via the Beit Hanun border crossing. Such Israeli restrictions blocked the movement of two million Gazans.
The center called on the international community and the parties involved in the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to immediately step in and urge the Israeli occupation to lift the siege and open the border crossings before Gaza’s stranded passengers and humanitarian cases.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday morning opened machinegun fire at Palestinian citizens in the Gaza Strip and carried out diggings in a border area.
According to Quds Press, Israeli border soldiers opened fire from their military posts and vehicles at Palestinian farmers and homes to the east of Khuza'a town in Khan Younis, south of Gaza.
The farmers escaped unhurt from their fields, Quds Press noted. During the shooting, Israeli military bulldozers embarked on carrying out diggings near the border fence in search for tunnels.
The Israeli army has been committing ceasefire violations in Gaza almost every day since it accepted an Egyptian-brokered truce agreement on August 26, 2014.
According to Quds Press, Israeli border soldiers opened fire from their military posts and vehicles at Palestinian farmers and homes to the east of Khuza'a town in Khan Younis, south of Gaza.
The farmers escaped unhurt from their fields, Quds Press noted. During the shooting, Israeli military bulldozers embarked on carrying out diggings near the border fence in search for tunnels.
The Israeli army has been committing ceasefire violations in Gaza almost every day since it accepted an Egyptian-brokered truce agreement on August 26, 2014.
15 feb 2016
At least 21 people were injured on Monday after a ceiling collapsed in a building under construction on a university campus in the southern Gaza Strip, a Gaza civil defense service spokesman said.
Muhammad al-Midana said the ceiling collapsed during construction work.
Sources in the Gaza civil defense rescue service told Ma’an that both students of al-Aqsa University’s Khan Yunis branch and workers were among the wounded. At least 12 of the injured were taken to Nasser medical center in Khan Yunis while rescue teams were evacuating the others.
The Gaza Strip has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007, which has severely impaired the construction sector in the Palestinian enclave as building materials are hard to come by.
The World Bank on Thursday highlighted the “extremely difficult” situation in the Gaza Strip, which it said has only received six percent of the funding it needs to recover from the latest devastating Israeli offensive on the besieged territory in 2014.
Muhammad al-Midana said the ceiling collapsed during construction work.
Sources in the Gaza civil defense rescue service told Ma’an that both students of al-Aqsa University’s Khan Yunis branch and workers were among the wounded. At least 12 of the injured were taken to Nasser medical center in Khan Yunis while rescue teams were evacuating the others.
The Gaza Strip has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007, which has severely impaired the construction sector in the Palestinian enclave as building materials are hard to come by.
The World Bank on Thursday highlighted the “extremely difficult” situation in the Gaza Strip, which it said has only received six percent of the funding it needs to recover from the latest devastating Israeli offensive on the besieged territory in 2014.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday morning opened machinegun fire at Palestinian citizens and homes to the east of the central district of the Gaza Strip, with no reported casualties.
According to Quds Press, Israeli soldiers intensively opened fire from their posts and military vehicles at houses as well as farmers, shepherds and bird hunters working east of Johr Addik neighborhood in central Gaza.
The eastern borderline of Gaza also saw unusual military moves and drone overflights during the gunfire attack. The Israeli army has been committing ceasefire violations in Gaza almost every day since it accepted an Egyptian-brokered truce agreement on August 26, 2014.
According to Quds Press, Israeli soldiers intensively opened fire from their posts and military vehicles at houses as well as farmers, shepherds and bird hunters working east of Johr Addik neighborhood in central Gaza.
The eastern borderline of Gaza also saw unusual military moves and drone overflights during the gunfire attack. The Israeli army has been committing ceasefire violations in Gaza almost every day since it accepted an Egyptian-brokered truce agreement on August 26, 2014.
Israeli soldiers opened fire, on Monday morning, on several Palestinian farmers in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, while navy ships fired live rounds on fishing boats, in Gaza territorial waters.
The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) has reported that Israeli soldiers, stationed in the Kissufim military base, across the border fence east of Khan Younis, fired many live rounds targeting Palestinian farmers, forcing them to leave their lands.
In addition, Israeli navy ships opened fire on a number of fishing boats, in Gaza territorial waters, only four nautical miles away from the shore, northwest of Gaza city.
The fishers returned to the shore without fishing, to avoid further Israeli violations and assaults.
The army and navy conduct ongoing assaults against Gaza fishers in Gaza waters, including close to the shore, in addition to frequent attacks targeting workers, and farmers, in Palestinian lands, closed to the border fence.
The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) has reported that Israeli soldiers, stationed in the Kissufim military base, across the border fence east of Khan Younis, fired many live rounds targeting Palestinian farmers, forcing them to leave their lands.
In addition, Israeli navy ships opened fire on a number of fishing boats, in Gaza territorial waters, only four nautical miles away from the shore, northwest of Gaza city.
The fishers returned to the shore without fishing, to avoid further Israeli violations and assaults.
The army and navy conduct ongoing assaults against Gaza fishers in Gaza waters, including close to the shore, in addition to frequent attacks targeting workers, and farmers, in Palestinian lands, closed to the border fence.
13 feb 2016
Israeli Navy Forces opened fire Saturday morning at Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza shores.
No casualties were reported during the armed attack. Quds Press quoted local sources as saying that Israeli war boats deliberately targeted this morning a number of Palestinian fishing boats while sailing off Gaza shores.
There were no reports on casualties; however, the fishermen were forced to abandon their boats and return to shore.
Under a ceasefire agreement following a deadly 51-day Israeli war on Gaza in August 2014, Israel agreed to expand the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast, allowing fishermen to sail as far as six nautical miles off the shore.
Palestinian fishermen, however, are usually targeted by the Israeli navy before they reach the agreed limit. The Gaza Strip has been under Israel’s blockade since June 2007.
The blockade has caused a decline in living standards as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty. Around 4,000 fishermen work in Gaza, with more than half of them living below the poverty line.
Israel Continues to Breach Ceasefire by Targeting Gaza Fishermen
Israeli naval boats, on Saturday, continued to breach a truce agreement reached in August of 2014, under Egyptian auspices, opening heavy machine gunfire on Palestinian fishermen offshore, in the north of the Gaza Strip.
According to WAFA, the navy fired on the fishermen despite their sailing within the unilaterally imposed 6-nautical mile fishing zone, forcing farmers to flee back to shore, for fear of being injured, killed, or arrested.
The Israeli navy targets Palestinian fishermen and farmlands along the border on an almost daily basis, in a blatant breach of the August 2014 truce agreement reached between the Israeli side and Palestinian armed resistance in Gaza, following 51 days of bloody aggression on the Strip.
The aggression claimed the lives of over 2,200 Palestinians -- mostly civilians, including some 551 children -- and left more than 10,000 others injured.
Archive IMEMC video: Gaza City's Devastated Al-Shuja'eyya Suburb
According to a press release issued in December of 2015, al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said that Israeli occupation forces have escalated their attacks against Palestinian fishermen off of the coast of Gaza amidst the ongoing siege, through which Israel prevents the entry of fishing equipment vital for the survival of the fishing community.
“Fishermen in Gaza are being deprived of their basic right to work, amidst violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.”
According to al-Mezan's monitoring, since the beginning of 2015 and until the publishing of the release, Israeli forces 'killed one fisherman, injured 17, and arrested 63... confiscated 19 fishing boats, destroyed fishing equipment on 12 occasions, and opened fire on Palestinian fishermen in 118 incidents during the same period.’
In line with the 1993 Oslo Accords, Palestinian fishermen are entitled to 20 nautical miles of fishing grounds; however, Israel restricts the fishermen to six nautical miles or less, where the catch is almost completely diminished and the fishermen are barely able to work.
“The restriction is a clear violation of the fishermen’s right to work and to access land and natural resources.”
The center noted that Israeli authorities continue to prevent the entry of fishing equipment into Gaza, including engines and fiberglass used to make boats. This restriction has an enormous impact on the ability of the fishing community to survive with the deteriorating standards of living and increasing poverty and unemployment.
In September, the United Nations warned that that the Gaza Strip could become uninhabitable for residents within just five years, pointing to the devastation of war and nearly a decade of Israeli blockade.
Al Mezan strongly condemned 'Israel’s ongoing siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the continued and systematic attacks against Palestinian fishermen that include death and injury, arrest and ill-treatment.’
In addition, the group condemned the Israeli damage, destruction and confiscation of Palestinian fishing equipment and boats, which represent their only source of income.
It reiterated its call on the international community “to promptly intervene to uphold its legal obligations towards civilians in the oPt and to respect its obligations under international law to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of gross violations of international humanitarian law.”
“Israel’s attacks against Palestinian fishermen, who do not pose any threat to Israeli soldiers, in the Gaza Strip constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, relevant to the protection of the civilian population and respect for its rights, including every person’s right to work, and the right to life, liberty and security of person, as codified in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), despite the fact that Israel is a State Party to the Covenant,” said the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR).
In June 2007, following the takeover of Gaza by Hamas, Israel imposed a land, sea and air blockade on the Gaza Strip.
According to a World Bank report issued on May 2015, “The blockade has reduced Gaza’s GDP by 50%.”
According to OCHA report titled: The Humanitarian Impact of the Blockade, “Israel, as the occupying power, must lift the blockade, which prevents the realization of a broad range of human rights for Palestinians in Gaza. The Secretary General of the United Nations has stated that the blockade and its related restrictions contravene article 33 of the Geneva Convention IV prohibiting collective penalties.”
No casualties were reported during the armed attack. Quds Press quoted local sources as saying that Israeli war boats deliberately targeted this morning a number of Palestinian fishing boats while sailing off Gaza shores.
There were no reports on casualties; however, the fishermen were forced to abandon their boats and return to shore.
Under a ceasefire agreement following a deadly 51-day Israeli war on Gaza in August 2014, Israel agreed to expand the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast, allowing fishermen to sail as far as six nautical miles off the shore.
Palestinian fishermen, however, are usually targeted by the Israeli navy before they reach the agreed limit. The Gaza Strip has been under Israel’s blockade since June 2007.
The blockade has caused a decline in living standards as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty. Around 4,000 fishermen work in Gaza, with more than half of them living below the poverty line.
Israel Continues to Breach Ceasefire by Targeting Gaza Fishermen
Israeli naval boats, on Saturday, continued to breach a truce agreement reached in August of 2014, under Egyptian auspices, opening heavy machine gunfire on Palestinian fishermen offshore, in the north of the Gaza Strip.
According to WAFA, the navy fired on the fishermen despite their sailing within the unilaterally imposed 6-nautical mile fishing zone, forcing farmers to flee back to shore, for fear of being injured, killed, or arrested.
The Israeli navy targets Palestinian fishermen and farmlands along the border on an almost daily basis, in a blatant breach of the August 2014 truce agreement reached between the Israeli side and Palestinian armed resistance in Gaza, following 51 days of bloody aggression on the Strip.
The aggression claimed the lives of over 2,200 Palestinians -- mostly civilians, including some 551 children -- and left more than 10,000 others injured.
Archive IMEMC video: Gaza City's Devastated Al-Shuja'eyya Suburb
According to a press release issued in December of 2015, al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said that Israeli occupation forces have escalated their attacks against Palestinian fishermen off of the coast of Gaza amidst the ongoing siege, through which Israel prevents the entry of fishing equipment vital for the survival of the fishing community.
“Fishermen in Gaza are being deprived of their basic right to work, amidst violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.”
According to al-Mezan's monitoring, since the beginning of 2015 and until the publishing of the release, Israeli forces 'killed one fisherman, injured 17, and arrested 63... confiscated 19 fishing boats, destroyed fishing equipment on 12 occasions, and opened fire on Palestinian fishermen in 118 incidents during the same period.’
In line with the 1993 Oslo Accords, Palestinian fishermen are entitled to 20 nautical miles of fishing grounds; however, Israel restricts the fishermen to six nautical miles or less, where the catch is almost completely diminished and the fishermen are barely able to work.
“The restriction is a clear violation of the fishermen’s right to work and to access land and natural resources.”
The center noted that Israeli authorities continue to prevent the entry of fishing equipment into Gaza, including engines and fiberglass used to make boats. This restriction has an enormous impact on the ability of the fishing community to survive with the deteriorating standards of living and increasing poverty and unemployment.
In September, the United Nations warned that that the Gaza Strip could become uninhabitable for residents within just five years, pointing to the devastation of war and nearly a decade of Israeli blockade.
Al Mezan strongly condemned 'Israel’s ongoing siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the continued and systematic attacks against Palestinian fishermen that include death and injury, arrest and ill-treatment.’
In addition, the group condemned the Israeli damage, destruction and confiscation of Palestinian fishing equipment and boats, which represent their only source of income.
It reiterated its call on the international community “to promptly intervene to uphold its legal obligations towards civilians in the oPt and to respect its obligations under international law to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of gross violations of international humanitarian law.”
“Israel’s attacks against Palestinian fishermen, who do not pose any threat to Israeli soldiers, in the Gaza Strip constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, relevant to the protection of the civilian population and respect for its rights, including every person’s right to work, and the right to life, liberty and security of person, as codified in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), despite the fact that Israel is a State Party to the Covenant,” said the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR).
In June 2007, following the takeover of Gaza by Hamas, Israel imposed a land, sea and air blockade on the Gaza Strip.
According to a World Bank report issued on May 2015, “The blockade has reduced Gaza’s GDP by 50%.”
According to OCHA report titled: The Humanitarian Impact of the Blockade, “Israel, as the occupying power, must lift the blockade, which prevents the realization of a broad range of human rights for Palestinians in Gaza. The Secretary General of the United Nations has stated that the blockade and its related restrictions contravene article 33 of the Geneva Convention IV prohibiting collective penalties.”
Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers east of al-Buriej refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, on Friday afternoon, locals said.
The farmers were forces to leave the area, with no injuries reported.
Meanwhile, locals said that four Palestinians were reportedly detained after crossing the border fence between the besieged enclave and Israel.
An Israeli army spokesperson said she was "looking into the reports", according to Ma'an.
Palestinians frequently face fire from Israeli forces inside of or near the military-imposed “buffer zone” along the borderline between Gaza and Israel, although the exact limits of the zone are often unclear.
The Israeli army often says that the use of live fire is necessary to deter potential "security threats," a practice which has, in effect, destroyed much of both the agricultural and fishing sectors of the impoverished coastal enclave.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported at least 13 incidents of Israeli forces opening fire on Palestinians in the "buffer zone", on both land and sea, during the second week of February. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
The farmers were forces to leave the area, with no injuries reported.
Meanwhile, locals said that four Palestinians were reportedly detained after crossing the border fence between the besieged enclave and Israel.
An Israeli army spokesperson said she was "looking into the reports", according to Ma'an.
Palestinians frequently face fire from Israeli forces inside of or near the military-imposed “buffer zone” along the borderline between Gaza and Israel, although the exact limits of the zone are often unclear.
The Israeli army often says that the use of live fire is necessary to deter potential "security threats," a practice which has, in effect, destroyed much of both the agricultural and fishing sectors of the impoverished coastal enclave.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported at least 13 incidents of Israeli forces opening fire on Palestinians in the "buffer zone", on both land and sea, during the second week of February. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
Truce violations List of names Pictures of martyrs
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