Israeli forces release 3 Gaza fishermen

21/02/2011

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces released three Gaza fishermen on Sunday, detained at sea a day earlier, local sources told Ma'an.

Residents reported that Mustafa Hijazi Lahham, Mahmoud Hasan Lahham, and Hijazi Hani Lahham went missing after leaving the Khan Younis harbor early Saturday morning.

Relatives feared the men may have drowned.

An Israeli military spokesman said the boat "breached the designated fishing area surrounding the Gaza Strip. When the fisherman failed to respond to Israeli Navy Force warnings and return to the permitted area they were detained for questioning by security forces. Overnight, they were returned to Gaza via the Erez Crossing."

Locals told Ma'an that Israeli forces had detained the men, but that they were released and returned to the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Source: Ma'an News Agency.
Link: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361621.