Days of Palestine, Brussels –The Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights on Monday said that tens of emigrants from Gaza Strip drowned off the Italian coasts on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Euro-Mid expressed concerns about the drowning of Palestinians emigrants from Gaza in two separate incidents –one off Alexandria coasts and the other off the Italian coasts.
The Euro-Mid reported a survival from Gaza, who is now in Greece, saying: “The boat [which capsized off the Italian coasts on Wednesday] set off from Alexandria heading to Italy. There were 400 people, including Palestinian families.”
He continued: “About 1.5km from the Italian coasts, a large boat intentionally hit our boat and all of us fell in the sea.” The man said he lost his wife and children in the incident.
Chairman of the Euro-Mid Rami Abdu told Days of Palestine that marine staffs from different countries have been searching for corpses and survivals.
In the meantime, Abdu expressed concerns over another boat set off from Benghazi two days ago. He said that he received news that it was discovered that the boat is leaking water and it aired rescue calls for help.
Abdu said that the boat is still inside the sea and most near to the Libyan coasts. “But the Libyan marine does not have the needed equipment to save the emigrants, where tens of Palestinians among them,” he said. “We are calling for Italian and Greek marines to save them.”
Regarding the reasons that pushed the Gazans to emigrate, Abdu blamed the Israeli occupation, which has been imposing a strict siege on the Gaza Strip since mid-2007 and it waged three wars during pace of this time.
“Life in Gaza deteriorated and Gazans feel disappointed with the living conditions in the Strip,” he said. “The Gazans started to think of finding better chances for life and Israeli occupation is blamed for this.”
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