- Title: Gaza fishermen feel caught by Israel's tight security net
- Date: 27th September 2016
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (SEPTEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) GAZA'S SHORE BOATS AT SEA BOAT ON SHORE VARIOUS OF FISHERMEN WORKING ON THEIR NETS VARIOUS OF FISHERMAN, MAJED ABU REYALA, WORKING ON HIS NET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FISHERMAN FROM GAZA, MAJED ABU REYALA, SAYING: "They (eds note: refers to Israeli security) ask whoever they detain to collaborate with them, some may collaborate and other say no." VARIOUS OF ABU REYALA WORKING ON HIS NET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FISHERMAN FROM GAZA, MAJED ABU REYALA, SAYING: "This year is the worst in the past 100 years." (Reporter asks: for fishing?) "For fishing and everything else." ABU RYALA WORKING ON NET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FISHERMAN FROM GAZA, MAJED ABU REYALA, SAYING: "I have an experience from last month, they (Israeli forces) shot toward the boat without me breaking (the law) they forced me to cut my net and lose it in the sea. The net costs around 3000 New Israeli Shekels (790 U.S. Dollar), they threatened to shoot me so I left it. They provoke us in purpose they know that this is our only work. They forced me to cut it and leave it in the sea. They threaten to shoot us or take us to detention in Ashdod." SPOKESMAN OF THE HAMAS-RUN INTERIOR MINISTRY, EYAD AL-BOZOM, AT OFFICE SIGN OF INTERIOR MINISTRY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SPOKESMAN OF THE HAMAS-RUN INTERIOR MINISTRY, EYAD AL-BOZOM, SAYING: "The (Israeli) occupation succeeded to recruit collaborators from fishermen and other people who cross via Erez crossing but in very small number because the security forces here in Gaza work and handle these cases in a fast way, and we assure that the occupation is unable to get information from the Gaza Strip like before." EXTERIOR OF GAZA'S FISHERMEN SOCIETY SIGN READING IN ARABIS: 'GAZA'S FISHERMEN SOCIETY' CHAIRMAN OF GAZA'S FISHERMEN SOCIETY, HISHAM BAKER, AT OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF GAZA'S FISHERMEN SOCIETY, HISHAM BAKER, SAYING: "We are in fishermen society document these (eds note: refers to Israeli) violations on daily basis, we speak to fishermen who are being blackmailed or detained in Ashdod. They (eds note: refers to Israeli security) should leave fishermen alone because they only do their work no more, they are trying to get their living because they are very poor so they want to bring food to their children." BAKER AT OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF GAZA'S FISHERMEN SOCIETY, HISHAM BAKER, SAYING: "The restriction on fishing distance and prevent fishermen to go for more than six miles forced some fishermen to quit and we are afraid many others may follow." VARIOUS OF FISHERMEN AT FISH MARKET FISHERMAN PREPARING HIS NET FISHERMEN ON BOAT AT SEA MORE OF FISHERMAN WORKING ON NET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FISHERMAN FROM GAZA, BILAL BAKER, SAYING: "They (eds note: refers to Israeli security) want to make them spies to collaborate with them and to give them information about the resistance activities and to direct them to the leaders." VARIOUS OF SUNSET OVER GAZA'S SHORE
- Embargoed: 12th October 2016 15:42
- Keywords: Gaza fishermen Israel security net
- Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00151CCLL3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Life for Palestinian fishermen in Gaza is becoming harder by the day.
Apart from the restriction imposed by Israel authorities preventing them from going out more than six nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, many of these fishermen say they are subject to pressure from Israel's security services.
According to the Al-Mezan Association, a Palestinian human rights group, 113 Gaza fishermen have been detained by Israel this year, compared to 41 in the same period of 2015.
As well the rising number, those detained say there is increased pressure - including the threat of losing their boats - to divulge information that might help Israel's security services.
The Israeli naval commander overseeing Gaza's coast confirmed around 70 fishermen have been detained this year.
They were handed over to other bodies, including the Shin Bet intelligence agency, for questioning before being returned to Gaza, he said.
"Our job is to look out for the enemy, having to deal with fishermen is a distraction for the forces," said the commander over the phone, who gave his name as Captain Guy. "We want them to make a living and we want to protect our vital interests."
For fisherman Majed Abu Ryala, 41, who became a fisherman at the age of seven, the experience has left a lasting scar.
"They (eds note: refers to Israeli forces) shot toward the boat without me breaking the law. They forced me to cut my net and lose it in the sea. The net costs around 3000 New Israeli Shekels (790 U.S. Dollar), they threatened to shoot me so I left it. They provoke us in purpose they know that this is our only work. They forced me to cut it and leave it in the sea. They threaten to shoot us or take us to detention in Ashdod," said Abu Ryala who was describing an incident last month.
Eyad Al-Bozom, spokesman of the Hamas-run interior ministry, said Israel's recruitment attempts reflected despair, saying Hamas security services had "crippled" Israel's ability to obtain information.
While there are around 4,000 fishermen in Gaza, making it one of the largest employers in the strip of 1.9 million people, only 500-700 fish regularly, either because business is too tough or they fear being detained.
Hisham Baker, chairman of Gaza's fishermen, said Israel's restrictions and what he called its blackmail had reached an unprecedented scale, putting the profession in danger.
"Many fishermen have quit," he said. "And we are afraid many others may follow."
Another fisherman, Bilal Baker said "They (Israeli security) want to make them spies to collaborate with them and to give them information about the resistance activities and to direct them to the leaders."
Under an interim peace deal, Gaza's fishermen were supposed to be allowed to trawl 20 nautical miles off the coast. But after the Hamas Islamist group seized control in 2007, a range of three and sometimes six nautical miles was enforced.
There have been periods of relaxation since, but for most of the past decade, the limit has remained the same, meaning the waters have become over-fished and depleted. Gaza now imports spawn from Israel and farms fish. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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