Israeli occupation navy kidnaped on Wednesday, 22 February 2023 four Palestinian fishermen in the sea of the northern Gaza Strip and confiscated their equipment and boats.

Local Palestinain media sources reported that the Israeli occupation navy soldiers stationed in the gunboats abducted four Palestinian fishermen identified as  Omar Muhammad Bakr, Ibrahim Muhammad Bakr, Mansour Muhammad Bakr, and Muhammad Jamal Bakr. Israeli occupation forces attacked the Palestinian fishermen while they were working in the sea of the Al-Waha and Al-Sudania areas, sources added. 

Israeli military troops seized a boat and fishing equipment belonging to the four fishermen after pursuing and besieging them since the morning.

Israeli occupation continues its illegal practices against Palestinian fishers, which are part of Israel’s illegal siege that amounts to a prohibited collective punishment under international law. 

In 2022, the Israeli occupation navy carried out 291 attacks against Palestinian fishermen, wounding 16 among them three children, kidnapping 45 fishers including seven children, and expropriating 14 fishing boats, according to Al Mezan Center For Human Rights. 

About 4,000 Palestinian fishermen work off the coast, more than half of whom live below the poverty line.

 It is worth mentioning that Israeli occupation authorities still prohibit the entry of essential fishing materials and supplies to the besieged enclave as part of their suffocating blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007.