Israel says it has eased restrictions, but Palestinians are not so sure

Mohammed Al-Hessi was thrilled when Israel extended the limit that Gaza’s fishermen are allowed to fish off of the coast from three to six nautical miles as part of the cease-fire deal that ended last month’s fighting between Hamas and Israel.

Exactly one week after the cease-fire, Al-Hessi, 40, headed out with four other fishermen, all relatives. He was hoping for a good catch, as the waters close to Gaza have been overfished.

He set out at 7:30 a.m. and at around 10:30 a.m., he claims he was approached by two Israeli gunboats that began firing warning shots and yelling. Al-Hessi insists that the soldiers ordered him to remain on the boat, and told the others to take off their clothes, jump into the water and swim toward the gunboats.

“Four Israeli soldiers jumped onto the boat and blindfolded and handcuffed me,” he told The Media Line. “I was really scared because I didn’t know what they would do to me. I really thought that what I was doing was okay, because I only went six miles out.”

Al-Hessi says the boat was towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod where he was held for 12 hours and then taken to the Erez crossing point between Israel and Gaza. The 19-yard-long boat, which belongs to his father, was confiscated and has still not been returned. He says the boat is worth $150,000 and is his extended family’s sole source of income.

“For two weeks I’ve had no work at all,” Al-Hessi said. “I haven’t brought in one shekel [Israel’s currency]. That boat is like my arm or my leg -- I just want it back.”

Khalil Shahin of the Palestine Center for Human Rights (PCHR) says there have been several cases similar to Al-Hessi’s since the cease-fire last month.

“One boat was completely destroyed, one damaged and four were confiscated,” Shahin told The Media Line. “These are civilian fishermen who are trying to feed their families. Israel must respect their obligations and allow the fishermen to go out.”

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev confirmed that, as part of the cease-fire with Hamas, Israel agreed to allow Gaza’s fishermen to go out to six nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

“In the framework of the cease-fire Israel has agreed to take steps that will help Gaza’s civilian population,” Regev told The Media Line. “Gaza’s civilians are not our enemies -- the Hamas terror organization is our enemy. We are willing to be forthcoming on civilian issues, but here there’s a security concern that can’t be ignored. We are very concerned about the possibility of weapons being smuggled into Gaza from the sea.”

However, Regev said he was not familiar with Al-Hessi’s specific case. Requests to the Ministry of Defense went unanswered.

The Mediterranean Sea is one of Gaza’s few natural resources. Under the 1993 Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians, Palestinian fishermen are allowed to go out up to 20 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. However, in October 2006, after Hamas captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel limited the fishing zone to six miles, and then to three. In addition, it has been almost impossible for Gaza’s fishermen to export their catch, and according to Al-Hessi, the fishing industry is on the verge of collapse.

PCHR says that in 1999 there were 10,000 Gazan fishermen; and today there are only 3,200, who together provide for more than 19,000 dependents.

“Israel is violating human rights by denying the fishermen’s right to a livelihood,” Shahin of PCHR said. “The arrest and subsequent detention of fishermen are carried out arbitrarily, without substantial grounds or reference to any reason for the arrest.”

Shahin called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow Gaza’s fishermen to fish at least six nautical miles from the coast.