"Gaza fishermen" .. Brutal Suffering Does Not End

Gaza- Basma M. Al-Kashif
Since years ago, the suffering of fishermen in the Gaza Strip is still at a standstill, whereas, unfair decisions of Israeli occupation deprive them from sailing only for three nautical miles that allowed to work out.

Although, Palestinian fishermen were facing misfortune and suffering during their journey to obtain their livelihood, they hope for a better tomorrow through pressure on the Israeli authorities and force them to lift the siege.
 
There are many forms of suffering faced by the Palestinian fishermen due to Israeli attacks. Whereas, they were being fired and their boats either were booked in the Israeli ports and or damaged, in addition to arresting them after they had been forced to swim for long distances.

A Palestinian fisherman, Jamal Basala confirmed that the conditions of fishermen are getting worse day after day, the Israeli gunboats not only besiege them, but also pursue and fire them, hoping that their living conditions become better for them and their families .
 
Basala indicated that the Egyptian territorial waters were available in some cases for Gaza fishermen to practice their profession in which a substitute for Palestinian territorial waters which they were deprived, but the Egyptian Navy recently prevented fishermen from crossing the border because of the events taking place in Egypt these days.

On the other hand, Basala pointed out that the assistance provided by some donors to the Palestinian fishermen, is just a real-time assistance to survive them due to the tragic circumstances in the Gaza Strip.

Moreover, head of Palestinian fishermen Nizar Ayash confirmed that the Israeli occupation in the wake of the recent war in the Gaza Strip is working hard to lure the
Palestinian fishermen to collaborate with them.

"In the past, the Israeli occupation asked the fishermen to communicate with him in indirect ways, but after the war they were exercising great pressure to force them to collaborate with him directly by luring them with funds and assistances." Ayash said.

Ayash mentioned that the economic and naval blockade led to high unemployment among fishermen to 80 % out of 3500 fishermen working in the Gaza Strip. Accordingly, he called for pressure on the Israeli occupation in order to stop its attacks which committed against the Palestinian fishermen.