Human rights organisations call for probe into illegal emigration of Palestinians

Palestinian human rights organisations have called on the Palestinian Public Prosecutor to open an investigation into the illegal emigration of families from Gaza.

In a statement issued yesterday, Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights said: “With great concern, we are following up the news about the boat which sank off the Egyptian coast with many Palestinians youths and families on board.”

Al-Dameer noted the increase in illegal emigration among the Palestinians in Gaza, caused by the dire economic situation and the insecurity they lived during the Israeli war. The organisation said that the continuation of internal divisions is also a contributing factor to the emigration.

Today, the Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights expressed concern about the drowning of the Palestinian emigrants in two separate incidents – one off the coast of Alexandria and the other off the Italian coast.

Euro-Mid reported that survivor from Gaza, who is now in Greece, said: “The boat [which capsized off the Italian coasts on Wednesday] set off from Alexandria heading to Italy. There were 400 people, including Palestinian families onboard.”

He continued: “About 1.5 kilometres from the Italian coast, a large boat intentionally hit our boat and all of us fell into the sea.” The man said he lost his wife and children in the incident.

Chairman of Euro-Mid Ramy Abdu said that marine forces from different countries have been searching for corpses and survivors.

In the meantime, Abdu expressed concerns over another boat which set off from Benghazi two days ago. He said that he received news that the boat was leaking and that it has asked for help.

Abdu said that the boat is still at sea near the Libyan coast. “But the Libyan marine authorities do not have the needed equipment to save the emigrants; tens of Palestinians are among them,” he said. “We are calling for Italian and Greek marine authorities to save them.”