Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats and Arrest Two, including a Child Western Beit Lahiya

At approximately 7:00 am on Monday, 29 August 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats which were in the Gaza sea of Al Waha area western Beit Lahiya in North Gaza district. The Israeli forces arrested two fishermen onboard and confiscated their boat and their nets.  Al Mezan identified the arrested fishermen as follows:

• --Mahdi Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Ryala, 38 and
• --Nafez Mahdi Abu Ryala, 15.

They are resident of Al Shate’ refugee camp.  According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, the fishermen were about 2,000 meters away from the northern illuminated buoys when  an Israeli gunboat pursued the fishing boat. Two Israeli boats surrounded the Palestinian fishing boat and ordered two fishermen onboard to take off their clothes and to swim to the Israeli boat. The other fishermen who were in the area abandoned their work for the day, sailing back to land immediately, a reflection of the dangers arising from the Israeli presence.