Israel returns body of murdered Palestinian fisherman

On Sunday February, 25th, the Israeli occupation navy shot dead the Palestinian fisherman Ismail Abu-Riyaleh, 18, and wounded two of his relatives, who were aboard of the fishing boat

Mother of Palestinian fisherman Ismail Abu-Riyaleh, 18, receives his body from Israel on March 15, 2018. Abu-Riyaleh was killed after the Israeli navy opened fired on the boat he and two others were sailing on February 25, 2018 [Mohammad Asad / Middle East Monitor]

by Mohammed Asad

Palestinian fisherman Ismail Abu-Riyaleh was buried in Gaza today after Israeli occupation forces returned his body to his family.

The 18-year-old was killed after the Israeli navy opened fired on the boat he and two others were sailing on 25 February. The Israeli navy then captured Abu-Riyaleh’s body.

“Israeli forces targeted a Palestinian fishing boat which was on the way back to Gaza shore, which led to the death of one fisherman and wounding two others,” the fishermen’s union said after the attack.

Ismail’s father, Saleh, accused the Israeli occupation authorities of “committing a crime” against his son.

Read: Knesset approves bill banning handover of Palestinian corpses

“Continuous blocking of the body of my son means that the Israeli occupation carried out three crimes against him: murder and cold-blooded killing, blocking the body and trying to hide the proof of its crime,” he said.

Ismail’s body remained in Israeli custody for 18 days and was returned to his family through the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing earlier today.

Israel returns body of murdered Palestinian fisherman [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

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