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GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained 12 Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip early Sunday, sources told Ma'an.

A researcher for the Gaza-based al-Mezan Center For Human Rights told Ma'an Israeli naval forces detained fishermen from four boats near the al-Sudaniyya area.

Forces first detained Mahmoud Zayid and his brother Ahmad from Beit Lahiya.

They then detained three more fishermen from Gaza City and later six more, the researcher said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Israeli gunboats confiscated the four fishing boats, taking them to an unknown destination.

The researcher said the arrests were the largest "detention campaign" against Gaza fishermen since a ceasefire between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces was announced.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that over the course of the night, five fishing boats were apprehended after veering from the permitted fishing zone.

Twelve fishermen were arrested, the spokeswoman said.

A ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza on Aug. 26 stipulated that Israel would ease its blockade on the Strip and lighten restrictions on fishermen.

Since the agreement, Israeli forces have opened fire regularly at Gaza fishermen, saying they have veered outside the "designated fishing zone" which ends six nautical miles from shore.

Prior to the recent agreement, Israeli forces maintained a limit of three nautical miles on all Gaza fishermen, opening fire at fishermen who strayed further, despite earlier agreements which had settled on a 20-mile limit.

The restrictions crippled Gaza's fishing industry and impoverished local fishermen.
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by PCHR-Gaza - IMEMC News & Agencies

12 fishermen arrested, 5 boats confiscated

Israeli gunboats stationed in the Gaza Sea have again chased down and opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the officially allotted fishing zone.

According to the PNN, forces arrested 12 fishermen, confiscated 5 boats, and damaged fishing equipment.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemned the continued attacks expressed great concern over the repeateded targeting of fishermen and their livelihoods.

An investigation revealed that, at approximately 18:30 on Saturday, 06 December 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off northwest of al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia town, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2-3 miles and, then, surrounded 5 fishing boats boarded by 12 Palestinian fishermen.

All the fishermen were abducted and taken to an unknown destination, their boats and fishing nets confiscated, equipment damaged.

The fishermen were identified as:

· Safwat 'Abdel Malek Hasan al-Sultan (30) and Sa'ed Ziyad Mahmoud Zayed (32); both from al-Salatin neighborhood, who were on a boat belonging to Fahmi Mahmoud Mohammed Zayed. Israeli forces confiscated their boat and fishing nets.

· Mahmoud Mohammed Mohammed Zayed (29) and his brother Ahmed (30), from al-Salatin neighborhood, who were both on a boat belonging to their father. The boat was confiscated and fishing nets were cut and confiscated.

· Mohammed Amin Rushdi Abu Wardeh (22) and his brother Yousif (19); from al-Salatin neighborhood, who were both on the board of a boat belonging to their father. The boat was confiscated and fishing nets were cut and confiscated.

· Belal Abu 'Odah (23), Mahmoud Naser Mahfouz (23), Sofian Mahfouz (25), Yaser 'Othman Meqdad (26), his brother Adham (27), and Bahaa' al-Deen al-Najjar (22); all of them from al-Shati' refugee camo, west of Gaza City. They were on the board of two boats that were confiscated with fishing nets.

PCHR condemns the continued Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, and:

1. Calls for immediately stopping the policy of chasing and arresting Palestinian fishermen, and allowing them to sail and fish freely;

2. Calls upon Israeli forces to release the detained fishermen and compensate them for the material damage that might have incurred to them; and

3. Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to immediately intervene to stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian fishermen and allow them to sail and fish freely in the Gaza Sea.

See also: 09/16/14 26 Post-ceasefire Violations Documented by Canadian-based Think Tank