Histadrut supports Israel’s illegal blockade on Gaza,188 which has extremely negative consequences for Palestinian workers. Because of its continued reluctance to protect Palestinian workers, the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions has called for a boycott of Histadrut.189 As a result of the lack of protection, 93 percent of Palestinian workers in illegal Israeli colonies are employed in places with no workers’ committees or other organs defending their rights.190 Moreover, in cases where Palestinians workers have attempted to form their own unions, they have been accused of being security threats, and have subsequently lost their jobs.191 Restrictions on Fishermen in the Gaza Strip More than 30,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are dependent on the earnings of approximately 3,500 fishermen192 who, under the Oslo Agreements, should be permitted to fish up to 20 nautical miles (NM) (approximately 27 km) from the coast. “In 2002, Israel committed to allow Palestinian fishing activities up to 12 nautical miles from shore, under the “Bertini Commitment”. However, this commitment was never implemented. To the contrary, additional, more severe restrictions have been imposed by Israel upon the fishing industry of the Gaza Strip subsequently.193 During some periods, Israel limits Palestinian fishing boats to three nautical miles from the shore.194 Due to restrictions imposed by Israel and confiscations of fishing boats, the number of fishermen in the Gaza Strip shrank to 3,500 by 2010 compared to 10,000 in 2000.195 188 Ibid. Pages 14-15 189 Ali Abunimah, “Gaza trade unions urge boycott of Israeli labor organization”, 17 July 2015. Available at: https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/gaza-trade-unions-urge-boycott-israeli-laborfederation 190 Dr. Majid Sbeih, “Executive Summary of a study on “Palestinian wage workers in Israeli settlements in the West bank – Characteristics and Work Circumstances””, Al-Quds Open University, 2011, page 2. Available at: http://www.dwrc.org/files/Palestinian%20wage%20workers%20in%20Israeli%20 settlements%20in%20the%20West%20Bank%20%E2%80%93%20Characteristics%20and%20 Work%20Circumstances%20(executive%20summary).pdf 191 Bethan Staton, “Palestinian Workers in the Settlements Unite”, Al Jazeera, 9 April 2015. Available at: www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/03/palestinian-workers-settlements-unite-150322065924846.html 192 Mel Frykberg, “Gazan Fishermen Dying to Survive”, Inter Press Service News Agency, 27 February 2015. Available at: www.ipsnews.net/2015/02/gazan-fishermen-dying-to-survive/ 193 OCHA – Occupied Palestinian Territories, “Between the Fence and a Hard Place The Humanitarian Impact of Israeli-Imposed Restrictions on Access to Land and Sea in the Gaza Strip”, August 2010, page 10. Available at: www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_special_focus_2010_08_19_english.pdf 194 OCHA – Occupied Palestinian Territories, “Restricted Livelihood Gaza’s Fishermen”, July 2013, page 1. Available at: www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_gaza_fishermen_case_study_2013_07_11_ english.pdf 195 OXFAM, “The ADCR 2011: Human Deprivation under Occupation”, UNDP, 2011, page 8. Available at:http://www.arabstates.undp.org /content/dam/rbas/doc/poverty/BG_12_Human%20 Deprivation%20Under%20Occupation.pdf; Ma’an News Agency, “Israel returns 19 confiscated Gaza fishing boats”, 22 June 2015. Available at: www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=766095 52