Israeli Airstrikes Target Palestinian Fishing Boats in Rafah, Gaza, Part of Ongoing
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Israeli
Airstrikes Target Palestinian Fishing Boats in Rafah, Gaza, Part of Ongoing
Genocidal Warfare
Union
of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)
6 November 2023
Rafah, Gaza – On November 4, 2023, the Israeli occupation forces conducted a
series of airstrikes, deliberately targeting the waters off the coast of Rafah
in southern Gaza. These airstrikes aimed at the ruthless destruction of
Palestinian fishing boats anchored along the shore, resulting in the
annihilation of 15 boats owned by 91 Palestinian families. This brutal attack
constitutes a grave violation of international law, as it blatantly defies the
prohibition on the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
These
targeted airstrikes on fishing boats in Rafah are not isolated incidents but
rather part of a systematic campaign aimed at crippling the Palestinian fishing
industry, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and advancing Israel’s
policy of ethnic cleansing. Beyond the immediate destruction of the boats,
these attacks have far-reaching consequences, impacting the livelihoods of
Palestinian fishermen and their ability to support their families.
The
deliberate obliteration of these fishing boats not only results in financial
losses for the affected families but also exacerbates the already severe
economic challenges faced by the people of Gaza. The longstanding blockade on
Gaza, coupled with restrictions on the import of essential goods, has led to food and water shortages that profoundly
affect the daily lives of its residents. By targeting fishing boats, the
Israeli occupation forces intensified the hardships endured by the people of
Gaza.
Israel’s
targeting of Palestinian access to food and maintenance of livelihoods is part
of Israel’s systematic campaign aimed at maintaining the illegal blockade on
Gaza, collectively punishing its population, and continuing its ongoing
genocidal warfare.