Tag Archives: fishers

March 27, 2013 From Gaza, In the media, Trade not Aid

Now Gaza’s Ark Prepares to Dare Israel

Palestinian fishers are hit hard by the Israeli blockade on Gaza. Credit: Emad Badwan/IPS.

GAZA CITY, Mar 27 2013 (IPS) – “An ark is literally a large floating vessel designed to keep its passengers and cargo safe,” say the group preparing ‘Gaza’s Ark’. But their ark, they say, is “a vessel that embodies hope that the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip can soon live in peace without the threat of the Israeli blockade.”

An initiative by Palestinians in Gaza and international solidarity activists, Gaza’s Ark entails “purchasing a run-down boat from a local fishing family,” says Michael Coleman, a member of Free Gaza Australia and on the Gaza’s Ark steering committee.

March 11, 2013 From Gaza, In the media

Video: The prolonged Israeli naval blockade has destroyed Gaza’s fishing industry

The prolonged Israeli naval blockade has destroyed Gaza's fishing industry and marine sports

This video is a testimony to the unfair hardship created for the Palestinians of Gaza by the illegal Israeli blockade. Limits of 6 nautical miles to the fishing area drastically curtails the livelihood of fishers in Gaza as well as recreational activities. In addition, fishers daily risk their lives under the repressive actions of the Israeli navy. Palestinians as well as international observers in Gaza continually make appeals to end the blockade of Gaza. This video shows two Gaza's Ark activists giving statements: Mahfouz Kabariti, Palestinian spokesperson for Gaza's Ark in Gaza, and Michael Coleman, who is currently in Gaza following the development of Gaza's Ark project.

March 3, 2013 From Gaza, In the media

Gaza fishermen stage demonstration at sea to demand an end to the naval blockade

Posted March 3, 2013

In a few months Gaza's Ark will be in a position to sail out of Gaza for a similar challenge to the Israeli blockade.

Micheal Coleman from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Australia is in Gaza as a steering committee member of Gaza's Ark. This is what he reported: "Today I attended a protest at sea that called for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen and also demanded that Israel return over 30 stolen fishing boats it has confiscated."

Under the title Israel: Return the Stolen Boats Campaign Launch he has also posted some photos.

To support Gaza's Ark, please donate or buy a symbolic Share in Hope.

January 22, 2013 In the media

Report Fishing In Gaza-Life and Death

This entry was posted by admin on Saturday, 19 January, 2013 http://www.irishfriendsofpalestine.org/2013/01/19/603/

Irish Friends of Palestine Delegation at Gaza Seaport meeting Fishermen

Pat Fitzgerald is a Sinn Fein Councillor at Waterford County Council and John Hearne is a Sinn Fein Councillor at Waterford City Council. Both men were crew members on the Irish Ship to Gaza MV Saoirse,with Pat as the Ship’s Engineer. They both spent a week in Givon prison, in Israel, after their boat was captured in route to Gaza and boarded by the IOF Navy in 2011. Both men are professional Trawler fishermen in Ireland and members of the recent Irish Friends of Palestine Delegation to Gaza November 2012. As part of our Irish Delegation they held meetings and tours with Gaza fishermen and with Mahfouz Kabariti of the Gaza Fishermen Association. The Delegation made a presentation of engraved Derry Crystal to Mr. Kabariti and the Fisherman’s Association on behalf of Irish Friends of Palestine members who were part of the Irish Ship to Gaza Freedom Flotilla II Campaign. A personal report from Pat Fitzgerald is submitted below. For a full list of upcoming reports about our recent delegation go HERE

January 3, 2013 From Gaza, In the media

Gaza Uncut: Another Year of War and Siege

Published on Dec 31, 2012

Four years ago, Palestinians in Gaza ended the year in a similar way. Following a cease-fire after the last war in November, Israel violated terms of the truce numerous times and on a daily basis. Gaza also remains under Israeli siege, making life more difficult.

January 2, 2013 From Gaza, In the media

Israeli Navy Opens Fire At Palestinian Fishermen In Gaza

The Israeli Navy opened fire, on Wednesday morning, at a number of Palestinian fishing boats at the coasts of Khan Younis and Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

fishermenattacked[1]

Wednesday January 02, 2013 12:44 by Saed Bannoura – IMEMC & Agencies

Local sources reported that the army fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition at the fishing boats, and forced the fishermen to return to their docks.

The sources added that the Navy chased the fishermen despite the fact that they were in the allotted area allowed for Palestinian fishermen.

January 2, 2013 From Gaza, In the media

Gaza fishing family struggles for survival

AFP – 1 January 2013

Unemployment in the Gaza strip, which has been under an Israeli economic blockkade since 2007, is at 30 percent. To make ends meet, some turn to traditional activities such as fishing. But the effects of the blockade, as well as pollution of the water, make their task extremely difficult.

December 27, 2012 In the media, Trade not Aid

Call for Freer Access to Gaza Land and Sea

Dec 26 2012 / 6:00 am

For fishermen in Gaza, there is still much uncertainty following the ceasefire.

By IRIN – Gaza

When Jaber Abu Rjaila heard about the recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza, he rushed back to his farmland – for the first time in more than 10 years.

“We have been farmers for generations. It’s our life and I’m very glad that we are back here now freely working,” he told IRIN. “I’ve been longing for this moment.”

December 25, 2012 In the media, Trade not Aid

Gaza Cease-Fire Helps Fishermen, but Risks Remain

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/world/middleeast/gaza-cease-fire-expands-fishing-area-but-risks-remain.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

Relaxed Rules Restore Old Opportunities: As a part of last month's cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel, Gazans can now fish 6 miles off the coast, doubling the previous limit.

By STEVEN ERLANGER and FARES AKRAM

Published: December 24, 2012

GAZA CITY — Khader Bakr, a 19-year-old fisherman, was thrilled to hear that he could now fish up to six nautical miles from the coast, up from the three-mile limit Israel had had in place since 2009. The change was part of the cease-fire deal that halted last month’s fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

December 12, 2012 In the media

‘I just want to live a peaceful life and be able to fish freely’

Mohammed Morad al Hessi (40) whose fishing boat was confiscated by Israeli naval forces

Mohammed Morad al Hessi (40) is a fisherman from Gaza City who works onboard his father's 16m fishing boat, along with several relatives. Mohammed is married and has seven children: 3 sons and 4 daughters. The income generated from the fishing he does with others supports more than 150 members of the extended al Hessi family.

On Wednesday, 28 November 2012, exactly one week after the announcement of the ceasefire between Israel and and all armed factions in the Gaza Strip, the al Hessi fishing boat was fired at by Israeli naval forces off the coast of Deir al Balah in the Gaza Sea. Although the terms of the ceasefire indicated that Israel would ease restrictions on fishing in Palestinian waters, the fishermen from the al Hessi family were targeted while sailing less than 6 nautical miles offshore. Mohammed al Hessi was arrested and taken to Ashdod seaport in Israel, where he was detained and questioned before being released at the Erez crossing into the Gaza Strip. The four other fishermen onboard were held on an Israeli gunboat for several hours and then released into Palestinian waters.