PCHR weekly report 18/2-23/2/10: more attacks against fishermen in Sudaniya

extracts from PCHR weekly report 18/2-23/2/10

Friday, 19 February 2010  

At approximately 10:00, Israeli gunboats patrolling off the coast of al-Sudaniya beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach; no casualties were reported.

Saturday, 20 February 2010 

At approximately 09:30, Israeli gunboats patrolling off the coast of al-Sudaniya beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach; no casualties were reported.

 

Gaza Fishermen Fight to Keep a Way of Life Alive

Sunday 21 February 2010

by: Pam Rasmussen, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

(Photos: Pam Rasmussen)

Once upon a time, this little strip of land (just 139 square miles, about twice the size of Washington, DC) was a potentially booming resort and fishing capital, with 25 miles of beautiful coastline and beaches and a Mediterranean seaport teeming with sardines and shrimp.

This is the Gaza Strip. But it's not a fairy tale and there is no happy ending. However, there are plenty of heroes and villains.

Ten years ago, Gaza's approximately 3,600 fishermen were hauling out approximately 3,000 tons of fresh fish a year, supporting an even larger 30,000 people in Gaza. Since then, violent clashes with - and ever-tightening restrictions by - the Israeli army have virtually destroyed the once-booming business. Today, just 20 percent of Gaza fishermen are still able to make a living in the industry most of them grew up with, and their total catch is three to five percent of what it used to be. And those who stick it out are putting their lives on the line.

Two days ago, says Mazen Hassan Abu Ryale, his cousin set out to fish in the port and came under Israeli fire. His boat was sunk and he was taken into custody. He hasn't been seen since. Today, Abu Ryale and his brother, Mooneer, tried to go out themselves. Less than three miles out, they also were attacked. They escaped with their lives and their boat, but three of their costly nets were confiscated and the rest were damaged. They managed to catch only six fish at a loss for the day of $800 (including the cost of fuel and replacing their nets)

"I am 59 now and I have been fishing since I was three years old, with my father," says Mazen. "But now, I can barely make a living."

The "Interim Arrangements" signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in 1994/1995, after the Oslo Accords were approved, stipulate that Gazan fishermen have the legal right to fish up to 20 nautical miles from the Gaza coastline. However, Israel never honored the Interim Agreements. According to Mohammed Hessey, general secretary of Gaza's Fishing Workers Trade Union, established in 1998, Israel waited just four years before unilaterally reducing the officially allowed fishing zone to 10 miles from shore. Then, when resistance fighters kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006, the approved fishing zone was ratcheted down to six miles. Following Israel's latest attack on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009, it was reduced once again to three miles. But even that zone isn't always honored. Israeli gun boats have been known to attack Gaza fishermen just one or two miles from the shore. Their weapons of choice are live ammunition and water cannons - which soldiers use to specifically target boats' structural components, particularly breakables like glass and machinery, or to hit passengers with a foul, sewage-smelling liquid.

In 2009, one fisherman was killed by the Israeli navy, 20 fishermen and civilians were wounded while on the water or shore, 68 were abducted and 29 boats were confiscated. Each boat confiscated represents a financial loss of $50,000-$200,000. For a while, it helped to have international volunteers on board the boats, from organizations like the Free Gaza Movement and the International Solidarity Movement. The presence of non-Palestinians, says Hessey, deterred the Israelis enough to allow them to fish up to six miles out from the coast. The last international volunteers to officially do so went out to sea on November 18, 2008, when three trawlers were confiscated and 15 fishermen and three ISM activists (Andrew Muncie, 34, from Scotland; Darlene Wallach, 57, from the United States, and Vittorio [Victor] Arrigoni, 33, from Italy) were abducted while fishing at about seven miles offshore. The 15 fishermen were later released and the three ISM volunteers were deported. The three trawlers were only returned after three human rights organizations - the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the ISM - filed a legal appeal against Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the commander of the Israeli Navy.

Since then, the fishermen have considered it too dangerous to go out with internationals - both for the volunteers and for themselves. (The soldiers who seized the 18 fishermen and internationals in November threatened: "You think that you have protection because you have internationals on your boat? Let's see what these internationals can do for you now.")

"Now, we have to stay so close to the shore that we must settle for catching only the smallest of fish ... the ones we would have thrown away before, and that would be illegal in other countries," says

This desperate search for fish in an increasingly small area often results in the use of techniques such as explosives that have a destructive impact on marine life. Further exacerbating the situation is sewage runoff from the hotels along the coast, due to a waste-treatment system suffering from a lack of spare parts.

Meanwhile, even if the fishermen were allowed to catch more fish than what can feed the Gaza population, exports are prohibited by the Israeli blockade in place since 2007.

Nevertheless, Hessey and his sons are like most of the fishermen in Gaza. Despite the risks and declining revenue, they love their profession and won't give up. Hessey has been fishing for 37 years, since he was 20. His grandfather was the first to go into the fishing business, in Jaffa - now part of Israel. During the "nakba" (when Israel ethnically cleansed much of Palestine from its native inhabitants and unilaterally declared statehood), his grandfather and his family were forced to move to Gaza, and Hessey's father joined him in the business. Hessey's oldest son was killed by an Israeli bomb just 11 days before he was due to be married, but his three other sons have grown up to follow their father into the fishing industry.

To help, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Mercy Corps and the French aid agency Acted (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development) keep those unable to fish employed by paying them to mend damaged boats, clean up the coast line, etc.

"We just have to be patient and act 'as one hand,'" says Hessey. That means, he said, political factions must work together, and individuals must resist the urge to respond to the hard life in Gaza by worrying about their own security. Times were hard during the first and second Intifada, but they got better, he said, and they will this time as well. "Twenty years ago, we were a strong community, especially fishermen. We have to be that way again and wait it out."

IOF Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats in As-Sudania Area

20-2-2010

Al Mezan

At app. 9:10am on Saturday 20 February 2010, IOF naval vessels that patrol Gaza sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats which were  in  the Jabalia sea off the coastline of AS-Sudania area in the North Gaza District. No casualties or injuries were reported but the fishermen were terrified and left the area without continuing their fishing.

------

Israeli gunships open fire at Palestinian fishermen

Saturday, 20 February 2010 09:46

Gaza Strip, February 20, 2010 (Pal Telegraph)- Israeli gunships opened fire on Saturday at Palestinian fishing boats off the coasts of northern and southern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.
Palestinian sources told KUNA that the gunships stationed out at sea, opposite Sudaniya , in north of Gaza, and Rafah, opened fire on the fishing boats, which headed back to bay to avoid damage.
No casualties were reported, but the boats were damaged, they said.
Palestinian fishing boats are targeted daily, as Israel claims that they exceed the three-mile fishing limit.
Meanwhile, Mazin Abu-Riyalah, Gazan fisherman, reported on the phone at 11:30 a.m. today that Israeli gunboats are firing towards fishermen and heir boats.

Source: KUNA

Photo: Eman Jomaa

PCHR weekly report 11/2-17/2/2010:

extracts from PCHR weekly report 11/2-17/2/2010

Sunday, 14 February 2010

At approximately 06:45, Israeli gunboats fired at 2 fishing boats that were sailing opposite to al-Waha Resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Four Palestinians were on board of the fishing boats. Two gunboats surrounded the Palestinian fishing boats and forced them to sail towards Israel. IOF confiscated the boats and arrested the fishermen who are: Sharif Mohammed al-Abed al-Sultan, 37, Samih Rajab al-Abed al-Sultan, 23, ‘Awad Ghaleb al-Sultan, 21, and Fadal Jamal al-Sultan, who are all from Beit Lahia town. At approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF released Sharif al-Sultan and Samih al-Sultan through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip, while the other fishermen are still detained. 

IOF Gunboats Open Fire on Palestinian Fishing Boats northwest of Beit Lahyia

17-2-2010

Al Mezan

At app. 6am on Wednesday 17 February 2010, IOF naval vessels that patrol Gaza sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats which were in Beit Lahyia sea in the North Gaza District. No casualties or injuries were reported but the fishermen were terrified and left the area without continuing their fishing.

IOF detain 4 Palestinian fishermen

[ 14/02/2010 - 11:59 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday kidnapped four Palestinian fishermen at sea north of the Gaza Strip while fishing, the fisheries department in the PA agriculture ministry in Gaza said. It added that the IOF gunboats attacked two small Palestinian fishing boats and kidnapped the four fishermen all of one family. The ministry held the IOF fully responsible for lives of the fisherman and the suffering of Palestinian fishermen in general. It asked for daring stands on the part of international organizations to protect Palestinian fishermen. The dean of Palestinian fishermen Nizar Ayash said that the Israeli military navy tries to empty Gaza coastline from fishermen and deliberately assault them on a daily basis. Ayash affirmed that the Israeli gunboats always open fire at fishermen in Rafah and northern Gaza coast, pointing out that over the past ten years, the losses of the fishing sector amounted to $17,000,000. He added that Israel killed during this period eight fishermen, kidnapped 200 others and wounded dozens. De facto gov't: 4 fishermen detained by Israeli navy off Gaza coast Published yesterday 16:54 [MaanImages] Gaza – Ma'an – Israeli naval forces detained four Gazan fishermen off the Sudaniyya coast of northern Gaza, according to Nixar Ayyash, head f the Union of Fishermen in Gaza. Sources within the de facto government identified those detained as Awad Ramadan Sultan, Fadl Jamal Sultan, Sharif Muhammad Sultan, and Samih Rajab Sultan. The de facto Ministry of Interior called for the fishermen's immediate release urged international human rights groups to protect Gaza's fishermen. An Israeli military spokesman said the following: "Earlier today two Palestinian fishing boats crossed into an area not permitted for Palestinian sea vessels. An IDF naval force called on the crew to halt. When the latter failed to comply the boats were lead to the Ashdod port where the crews were taken for security questioning." IOF Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats and Arrest four of them in North Gaza District At app. 6:45am on Sunday 14 February 2010,  Israeli naval vessels that patrol the sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats north of Al Waha resort in Biet Lahyia in the North Gaza District. IOF military boats moved towards two of the fishing boats and rounded on them. The IOF ordered four fishermen who were on the fishing boats to swim towards the IOF boats and arrested the four of them. The IOF also confiscated their boats. Al Mezan identified their names as follows: ·         Sharif Mohammed Al Abed As-Sultan,37; ·         Sameh Rajab Al Abed As-Sultan,23; ·         AAwad Ghalib Ramadan As-Sultan,21; and ·         Sadel Jamal Ramadan As-Sultan,18.   At app. 7pm on the same day, the IOF released Sharif and Sameh As-Sultan while the other two fishermen are still being detained. Al Mezan's advocates are following up the development of their detention.

Egyptian security deny arresting Gazan fishermen

Al-A’rish- Ma'an – Egyptian authorities denied arresting four Gazan fishermen off the southern coast of Rafah on Friday, senior Egyptian security sources told Ma'an on Sunday.

"The territorial water between Egypt and Gaza did not witness any Palestinian violations [prompting an arrest] over that period of time," the sources said.

"Egyptian coast guards deal with Palestinian in a humane way; if they cross into Egyptian territorial water, they are turned away without arrest because of the inhumane circumstances Palestinian fishermen are living under."

Sources added that any arrests would be announced through the legal channels within the Egyptian security services.

Egyptian navy arrests 4 Palestinian fishermen off Rafah's shore

Gaza – Ma'an – Egyptian naval forces arrested four Palestinian fishermen Friday night, trawling for a late night catch on the Gaza shore south of Rafah, witnesses said.

The men were taken to an unknown location and remain out of contact with family, sources confirmed.

Witnesses identified the men taken as Khalid Al- Hesi, Marwan Al-Se’eidi, Khader Murad and Fathi Ar-Reba’i.

The reasons behind their detentions remain unclear.

Agriculture ministry condemns Egyptian arrest of Palestinian fishermen

[ 13/02/2010 - 02:38 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- The Palestinian agriculture ministry has expressed dismay at the Egyptian detention of four Palestinian fishermen in which it described as a "serious precedent". The ministry in a press release on Saturday said that four fishermen were aboard two small finishing boats on Friday evening when they were kidnapped by the Egyptian authorities while fishing at sea south of the Gaza Strip. It said that Palestinian fishermen are facing dangers in their sole source of sustenance. The ministry regretted that the Palestinian fishermen are now being targeted by both the Israelis and Egyptians. It urged the Egyptian authority to halt such persecution of Palestinian fisherman, and called on concerned Egyptian professional syndicates to denounce the practices and to intervene to stop them.

IOF Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats in northwest Beit Lahyia

13-2-2010

Al Mezan

At app. 6:10pm on Saturday 13 February 2010,  IOF naval vessels that patrol Gaza sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats which were in the sea of  Beit Lahia town in the North-Gaza district. No casualties or injuries were reported in this incident but fishermen were terrified and left the area without completing their fishing.

PCHR weekly report 4 - 10/2/10: 4 fishermen abducted later released, 2 boats stolen

extracts from PCHR weekly report 04 – 10 February 2010

Sunday, 07 February 2010

At approximately 06:30, two Israeli gunboats opened fire at two Palestinian fishing boats sailing off the coast of al-Waha resort to the northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.  Four Palestinian fishermen were on the boats.  IOF from the two gunboats arrested the fishermen and confiscated the two fishing boats.  The four fishermen were released in the evening. They are: 'Odai 'Abdul Bari al-Sultan, 18; Mohammed 'Abdul Bari al-Sultan, 20; Dib Kamel al-Anqah, 22; and Ahmed Kamel al-Anqah, 18.  

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

At approximately 00:15, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing off the coast from al-Waha resort in the northern Gaza Strip.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to leave the area and no casualties were reported.  

Khudari warns of IOF escalation in targeting Palestinian fishermen

[ 07/02/2010 - 04:34 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular anti siege committee, has warned of the escalating Israeli targeting of Palestinian fishermen after circulating trivial allegations and security pretexts. Khudari, in a press release on Sunday, said that arresting four fishermen and increasing shootings at fishing boats after claims of discovering barrels filled with explosives reaching Israeli coasts from Gaza point to the intention to escalate attacks on those fishermen. He called for international action to pressure the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) into desisting from further harassment of fishermen in violation of international laws. The IOA is depriving fishermen from fishing at sea and is chasing them in the mere two nautical miles allowed for them, the lawmaker said, describing such acts as "piracy". He said that the IOA practices were threatening thousands of fishermen with death or loss of sustenance for their children. Khudari unlearned that Gaza's needs of fish are not met due to such practices, adding that thousands of Palestinian families depend on fishing as their sole source of living.

IOF soldiers detain four Palestinian fishermen at sea

[ 07/02/2010 - 11:37 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) aboard navy gunboats on Sunday arrested four Palestinian fishermen off the northern Gaza Strip coast and towed their boats to Israeli shore. Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli gunboats encircled the two fishing boats and forced them to head to the Israeli coast. Israeli navy boats block Palestinian fishing more than three nautical miles off Gaza at the pretext of fighting smuggling via sea route into the Strip.

IOF Arrest Four Fishermen, Seize Boats on Beit Lahyia Coast: Al Mezan Condemns IOF Violations, Calls for International Protection

7-2-2010

 Al Mezan

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued attacking Palestinian fishermen in Gaza sea. Today, Sunday 7 February 2010, IOF naval vessels opened fire at fishing boats, arrested four fishermen, and confiscated two fishing boats opposite Beit Lahyia coast. Al Mezan condemns IOF’s continuous violations against Palestinian fishermen and calls on international community to provide protection for them.

According to investigations conducted by Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, at approximately 6am on Sunday 7 February 2010, IOF naval vessels that patrol Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats which was north Al-Waha resort, west of Beit Lahia town in the North-Gaza district. The fishermen were working inside the fishing zone that had been announced by the IOF, which is limited to 3 nautical miles. Eyewitnesses informed Al Mezan that IOF military boats moved towards two of the fishing boats and rounded them. IOF ordered four fishermen who were on the fishing boats to swim towards the IOF boats and arrested the four of them. IOF also confiscated their boats. Al Mezan identified their names as follows:

·         Mohammed Abdel-Bari As-Sultan, 21;

·         'Udai Abdel-Bari As-Sultan, 19;

·         Deeb Kamel Al-Anqah, 22; and

·         Ahmed Kamel Al-Anqah, 18.

It was not known where the IOF took them. They have still been detained by the time of issuing this press release.

Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights condemns the IOF attacks against Palestinian fishermen. IOF’s conduct has caused violations of Palestinian fishermen’s rights and affected their living seriously. This new escalation comes as the IOF tightened the siege on the Gaza Strip. This new incident supports the view that IOF prevents Palestinian fishermen from working, even when they are within the Israeli-determined fishing zone, which IOF had announced in March 2009 to be within 3 nautical miles.

Al Mezan reiterates its calls on the international community to intervene and end IOF’s attacks and harassment against Palestinian fishermen in Gaza.

Israeli gunboats fire at Palestinian fishing boats

[ 06/02/2010 - 02:29 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Israeli navy gunboats attacked Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of northern Gaza Strip on Saturday but no casualties were reported. A security source and fishermen said that an Israeli gunboat fired at three fishing boats off the Sudaniya area inflicting material damage on them. They added that other fishing boats retreated from the scene. Around 3,500 Palestinians in the Strip work in fishing and are routinely harassed by Israeli gunboats.

PCHR weekly report 28/1 - 3/2/10: another attack against fishermen

extract from PCHR weekly report  05/2010 28 Jan.- 03 Feb. 2010

Tuesday, 2 February 2010 

At approximately 10:00, an IOF gunboat fired at Palestinian fishing boats off the shore of Deir al-Balah. Then a number of rubber boats from the gunboat began to chase the Palestinian fishing boats. They fired at fishing nets, partially destroying them, and confiscated them. The confiscated nets belong to Fawzi Musallam al-‘Aqra’a, ‘Awni Rashad al-‘Aqra’a, Suheil Fayeq al-‘Aqra’a, and Sameh Mohammed al-‘Aqra’a. 

Al Mezan Condemns the IOF Attacks against Palestinian Fishermen

2-2-2010

Al Mezan

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) escalated its attacks against Palestinian fishermen. Today, Tuesday 2 February 2010, IOF naval vessels opened heavy fire at fishermen boats, followed them to the beach, and torn their fishing nets in the sea.

According to the documentation of Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, at approximately 8am on Monday 1 February 2010, IOF naval vessels were patrolling the sea opposite to Dier Al Balah town in middle Gaza district and opened fire at Palestinian fishermen boats who were working in the coast of the town and the nearby An-Nuseirat camp. Israeli vessels then sporadically fired towards fishing boats until 1pm on the same day. On Tuesday 2 February 2010, the IOF fired at fishermen boats and chased them by army rubber boats. Al Mezan’s field workers investigated these attacks and reported that fishermen boats did not exceed the limited fishing zone that had been announced by the IOF.

According to affidavits given to Al Mezan by the fishermen who were subject to these attacks, a special kind of fish locally called 'the birds' pass near Gaza coast at this time of the year, moving quickly from a place to another in the sea. This is the season in which this fish can be found in large quantities in Gaza sea. IOF had frequently taken restrictive and harassment measures against fishermen during this season during the past few years, causing them to lose the seasonal fishing.

Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights condemns the Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen which violate their rights and affect their living. Al Mezan reiterates its calls on the international community to intervene and IOF’s attacks and harassment against Palestinian fishermen in Gaza. International community’s silence in the face of these conducts has only encouraged IOF to continue violating human rights and international law.