This article was originally published by Ma'an News and is republished with permission.

Palestinian fishing boats sail alongside the SS Dignity, the third boat to break the Israeli siege by docking in the Gaza Strip. (Hatem Omar, Maan Images)

Fifteen Palestinian fishermen who were seized by the Israeli navy off the coast of the Gaza Strip were released on Wednesday.

The fishermen were arrested along with three international volunteers in Palestinian territorial waters on Tuesday. The three foreign nationals, and the boats, have yet to be released.

According to the Palestinian International Solidarity Movement and member of the Free Gaza Movement, the foreigners - Andrew Muncie from Scotland, Darlene Wallach from the United States and Vittorio Arrigoni from Italy - are still being held in a detention facility at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, and are likely facing deportation.

Two British politicians condemned the arrests on Tuesday night.

"I have contacted Foreign Minster Mark Malloch Brown and asked him to take action to challenge these arrests and demand their release - particularly of the UK citizen," said Parliament Member Clare Short.

"If there is to be any hope of peace in the Middle East, international law must be upheld. This means that the siege of Gaza must be lifted and the constant attacks by the Israeli navy on Gazan fishermen halted," added Short.

"The time has come for the international community, and especially the European Union to take action against Israel's consistent breaking of international law. The EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended until Israel complies with this law," said Baroness Jennifer Tonge.

Short and Tonge were among a group of European parliamentarians who sailed to Gaza earlier this month in defiance of the Israeli blockade of the territory aboard a small ship from Cyprus.

The international volunteers, who also sailed to the Strip, were taking part in a program of accompaniment for Gazan fishermen who face frequent harassment from the Israeli Navy when they were seized.