Israel Kills Palestinian Fisherman for the Crime of Fishing
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Gaza fishermen are repeatedly terrorized for fishing in Palestinian waters Israel considers off-limits.
Numerous incidents occur regularly, including use of live fire against fishermen threatening no one - at times wounding or killing them.
Days earlier, Israeli gunboats opened fire on Palestinian fishermen, operating legally three nautical miles offshore - forcing them to flee for safety.
‘Etaf ‘Aahed Sobhi Baker was wounded by a rubber-coated steel bullet to his head, fortunate to be alive and not maimed for life.
Others weren’t as lucky. On Sunday, Syndicate of Palestinian Fishermen head Nizar Ayyash said Israel attacked a fishing boat with three fishermen aboard, using live fire.
“All of them were directly targeted,” he said, including the one killed, the three identified as Mahmoud Adel abu-Riyaleh, Ahed Hassan abu-Riyaleh and Ismail Saleh abu-Riyaleh.
An Israeli military source lied, claiming they violated fishing limits, adding:
“The Israeli navy opened fire at the body of the boat, but they were wounded and one of them suffered serious injuries and passed away later on.”
All Israeli military statements following violence against Palestinians lack credibility - unjustifiably justifying criminal acts.
Much too often, Israeli military personnel shoot to kill or seriously injure, part of longstanding persecution of defenseless Palestinians.
Wounded fishermen in the Sunday incident were arrested, remanded to prison authorities for the crime of fishing.
According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, all Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen occur legally within six nautical miles from shore - harassing, wounding, arresting and killing them to deter others from legally pursuing their livelihoods.
Separately on Friday, South Africa’s Minister for Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, called on ruling ANC party officials to sever diplomatic ties with Israel during a parliamentary session, stressing:
The government should cut ties with the Jewish state because of its “absence of genuine initiatives…to secure lasting peace and a viable two-state solution that includes full freedom and democracy for the Palestinian people.”
At a December national party conference, cutting ties with Israel was urged “to give our practical expression to the oppressed people of Palestine,” adding:
“We concur with PLO official Jibril Rajoub, who was at our conference, and explained that the downgrade of the SA Embassy in Israel will send a clear message to Israel that there is a price to pay for its human rights abuses and violations of international law.”
Disengagement with Israel is less likely under newly appointed president Cyril Ramaphosa.
A weak-kneed statement he issued said “(w)e reiterate our call to the Israeli government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Palestinian leaders to find a resolution that affirms the equal rights of both people to self-determination, freedom and security.”
Failing to condemn its apartheid viciousness, he indicated no support for severing relations, dirty business with Israel to continue.
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