Families of Palestinians missing at sea demand answers

It has been two years since some 450 Palestinians and nationals of other Arab countries went missing on board an Egyptian ship destined for Italy.

Days after their ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by pirates, their case was closed and has not been reopened since.

More than 170 Palestinian families from the Gaza Strip have not lost hope. They held a protest at the Council of Ministers in Gaza City, many of them still hoping to learn the fate of their loved ones.

Questions are still being asked about whether they were arrested before departure or if they drowned. Incident reports and survivor testimonies have not confirmed the survival or death of those who went missing.

Carrying banners saying “bring back our children”, mothers of the missing called on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to form an commission to investigate the case.

They also called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to prioritise this case and contact the Egyptian authorities to try to find out more.