Israeli Navy Releases 4 Gaza’s Palestinian Fishermen, Steals Their Boats

The Israeli occupation released Monday, July 24, 2023, four Palestinian fishermen who were kidnapped by Israeli navy troops today’s morning while fishing offshore northern Gaza.

The Palestinian fishermen syndicate reported that Israeli forces released the four fishermen and entered them through the Beit Hanon “Erez” crossing, north of Gaza.

It reported that Israeli forces have stolen the fishermen’s boat while detaining them, and the occupation rejected to return it to its owners.

Under the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian fishermen are subjected to daily attacks by Israeli warships stationed several nautical miles offshore Gaza.

Last June, IOF detained 9 Palestinian citizens in Gaza, including five fishermen. Four other Palestinians were detained near the separation fences east of Gaza.

It’s noteworthy that the Israeli occupation has been prohibiting the entry of essential fishing materials and supplies to the besieged Gaza since 2007 as part of their suffocating siege imposed on the city.

So far in 2023, Israeli occupation forces IOF carried out 180 human rights violations against Palestinian fishermen while fishing offshore the Gaza Strip, during which 19 Palestinian have been detained, 11 others have been injured, and 6 fishing boats have been stolen, according to Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.