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OPT: Some relief for Gaza's fishermen

After two weeks, of being completely prevented from accessing the sea, Gaza's fishermen have been allowed back out to the sea, under the watchful eye of Israeli military air and sea crafts.
From Saturday the 24th of September until, Saturday the 8th of October Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) did not allow Gaza's fishermen access to the sea. Consequently the civilian population were completely denied access to Gaza's most wealthy natural resource. Over the course of the two week period the Israeli navy actively demonstrated their military presence by locating gunboats very close to the shore of the Gaza Strip.

Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza's coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2500 fishermen, 2500 support staff and their families. Over the past two weeks the fishing industry has been paralysed by this complete closure which has occurred during the generally busy Sardine season and also at a time when the moon provides optimal light for fishing.

Since the Fishermen have been allowed back into the sea they have been subjected to intensive monitoring by the Israeli military. The military have used helicopter gunships, and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. On a number of occasions the Israeli military opened fire against the civilian fishermen in order to enforce the 9 nautical mile limit imposed on them. The Oslo Accords make provision for Gaza's sea to be fished to 20 nautical miles.(1)

Gaza's fishermen have fared particularly badly over the course of the al Aqsa Intifada -- in the five year period they have been denied access to the sea for an accumulated total of one year. At other times the Israeli military has placed heavy restrictions on the limit to which the fishermen can travel to. This has had the effect of severally depleting the fish stock which is unable to renew itself close to the shore because of the intensive over fishing, caused by Israeli imposed restrictions.

The closure of the sea coincided with IOF imposed closures across the Gaza strip, including at Rafah international crossing point, Beit Hanoun (Erez) Checkpoint and al Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing point. The unilateral Gaza redeployment, seen by the international community as a step towards peace, has in fact institutionalised the effects of the Intifada.

Note:

(1) Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the west Bank and Gaza Strip, Annex 1, Article XIV.2. Jerusalem Media Centre

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