Israeli Maritime Police Deliberately Kill Two Drowning Palestinians with Boat Propellers

Occupied Jaffa (Quds News Network)- Families of two young Palestinian men say Israeli maritime police deliberately killed them during what should have been a rescue at occupied Jaffa’s beach last week.

The victims were Ameen Khalil Zaarour and Baha Shweiki, both from occupied Jerusalem. Relatives say the maritime police rammed them with a boat propeller instead of saving them. Several others from the same family were also injured.

According to the families, Israeli authorities tried to evade responsibility. Police demanded that relatives sign documents releasing them from any link to the murders in exchange for handing over the bodies. The families refused and demanded an independent autopsy.

Rescue Turned Into Murder

Eyewitnesses said the tragedy began when strong waves pulled five relatives into the sea. Calls for help were ignored for nearly 15 minutes. When the maritime police boat finally approached, it sped toward the struggling swimmers.

“The boat struck Ameen and Baha,” said Ibrahim Shweiki, the victims’ uncle. “They could have saved them, but they killed them instead.”

Survivors testified that police pushed them back into the water. One young man tried to climb aboard but was beaten on his hands and thrown into the spinning propellers. Another was struck when he tried to help.

Photos and video footage of the victims’ bodies show deep marks from propellers on their legs and hands. Ibrahim said police even dumped a victim’s body at the port among docked ships.

“This was murder and cruelty,” he said. “They left our children bleeding in the sea.”

Baha Shweiki leaves behind two young children, ages one and three. Ameen was the only son of his parents, born after two decades of waiting.

The families are demanding justice and say they have photos and videos showing police actions. They say Israeli maritime police turned a rescue into a deliberate killing.

“These were young men crying for help,” Ibrahim said. “Instead of saving them, the police used their boat as a weapon.”