GAZA, January 7, 2017 (WAFA) – The family of Gaza fisherman Mohammad Hissy, 32, whose boat the Israeli navy sank off Gaza shore on Wednesday night and has been missing since them, held on Saturday a funeral in absentia and mourning services for him after it became convinced that he was dead, according to the family.

It said that it has decided on this after talking to witnesses who told it what happened when the Israeli navy sank his boat and after waiting for 48 hours to find him without success.

Hissy is married with three children ranging in age between 5 and 11 years.

The family said it believes Israeli navy intentionally opened fire at his boat in order to kill him and therefore holds Israel responsible for his death. It has asked the Red Cross and international human rights organizations to help it retrieve his body.

M.K.