IOF Injures One Palestinian Fisherman and Arrests Five off the Coast of Rafah

19 April 2016

At approximately 2:00 AM on Tuesday, 19 April 2016, Israeli gunboats arrested five fishermen in the area between Rafah and Khan Younis Districts. IOF opened fire at group of Palestinian fishing boats which were sailing about 8 nautical miles off the coast. As a result, one fisherman sustained bullet wounds in his body. Medical sources described his injuries as moderate.  

In a separate incident, Israeli gunboats chased two fishing boats, and arrested the five fishermen who were onboard. The detainees were identified as follows: 

  1. Mustafa Mohammed Khalil Al Najjar,29;
  2. Oday Hassan Khalil Al Najjar,20;
  3. Ahmed Kamal ‘Owda Abu Mohsen,26;
  4. Mohammed Jehad Rezeq Mesleh,26;
  5. and his brother Bilal Jihad Rezeq Mesleh,21.

Mohammed Mesleh told Al Mezan that he and the other four fishermen were released at approximately 7:00 PM via Erez Crossing. His boat was confiscated, while the other boat which belongs to Al Najjar family sank after it was hit by Israeli bullets during the chase.