Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza Sea

PCHR

Sunday, 09 December 2012 00:00

Fact Sheet

Israeli Attacks on Fishermen in the Gaza Sea

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 48 attacks launched by the Israeli Occupation Forces against Palestinian fishermen during the reporting period (01– 30 November 2012).[1] According to PCHR teams' observations, these attacks escalated during the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip (14 – 21 November 2012), during which the Israeli forces committed 30 violations against Palestinian fishermen, which involved aerial and naval bombardment, as well as shooting at fishing ports across the coast of the Gaza Strip, resulting in extensive losses in public and private property of the fishing sector.

 

PCHR also documented 18 violations in the period following the offensive, after the truce deal between Israel and the Palestinian armed groups under Egyptian and international auspices was reached. These violations included, 8 shootings damaging 5 fishing boats (1 boat completely destroyed, damaging an engine, and partial damages to 3 other boats), 4 chase operations which led to the arrest of 15 fishermen while fishing between 3.5 to 6 nautical miles off the shore of Beit Lahia, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza, and the confiscation of a boat.

Violation of the Right to Life and Security of Person

Israel’s attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip constitute flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, especially the right to life and security of the person, in accordance with Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by the State of Israel.  Israeli forces perpetrated violations against Palestinian fishermen in the sea, whilst these fishermen did not pose any threat to Israeli naval troops.  The fishermen were practicing their right to work and seeking their livelihood within the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip when the Israeli forces attacked them.

First: Firing at Fishing Boats in the Gaza Strip Waters

During the reporting period, PCHR documented 8 cases in which Israeli forces fired at Palestinian fishermen in the seawaters off the Gaza shore; as a result, a fishing boat was completely destroyed, an engine was damaged, and 3 boats were partially damaged.  These attacks took place within 6 nautical miles off the Gaza shores, in which fishermen are allowed to sail and fish according to the truce-deal reached between Israel and the Palestinian armed groups under Egyptian and international auspices.  PCHR also documented the Israeli warplanes’ targeting of the fishing sector during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip. PCHR also noticed that these firing incidents against fishermen and their boats took place while fishermen were seeking their livelihood, and in the context of imposing more restrictions to terrify and prevent the fishermen from practicing their work freely.

Second: Arresting Fishermen

During the reporting period, PCHR documented incidents in which the Israeli forces arrested 15 Palestinian fishermen on 4 separate occasions, while fishing at a distance between 3.5 – 6 nautical miles, off the shore of Beit Lahia, Gaza, and Deir al-Balah.

· At approximately 10:00 hours on Wednesday, 28^th November 2012, Israeli forces chased a fishing boat, belonging to Murad Rajab al-Hessi, from Gaza, at nearly 6 nautical miles off Deir al-Balah shore. Mohammad Murad al-Hessi (39), Ahmed Murad al-Hessi (32), Murad Mohammad al-Hessi (18), and Rajab Rashad al-Hessi (36) were on board the fishing boat. 4 Israeli gunboats opened fire intensively at the boat; as a result, the boat was partially damaged. The Israeli soldiers ordered the fishermen to jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat. They were all arrested and interrogated at gunpoint. 3 hours later, 4 of them were released, except for Mohammad Murad al-Hessi, who is still in detention. The boat is still confiscated.

· At approximately 08:00 hours on Wednesday, 28^th November 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire directly and intensively at a Palestinian fishing boat, belonging to Khader Jamal Baker (20), from Gaza, while sailing at 3.5 nautical miles. As a result, the fishing boat was completely destroyed. Baker was arrested by the Israeli soldiers and interrogated at gunpoint for 3 hours before releasing him.

· At approximately 11:00 hours on Wednesday, 28^th November 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire intensively at a Palestinian fishing boat boarding 3 fishermen, belonging to Wafdi Suheil Baker (24), from Gaza, while sailing at 5 nautical miles off the Gaza shore. As a result of the shooting, the boat’s engine was damaged. The Israeli soldiers arrested the three fishermen, who were identified as: Wafdi Suheil Baker (24), Khaled Suheil Baker (20), and Mohammad Suheil Baker (18), all from Gaza.

· At approximately 10:15 hours on Thursday, 29^th November 2012, Israeli naval forces stationed off the Beit Lahia shore, intercepted a fishing boat boarding 6 fishermen, belonging to Fahed Ziad Baker (38), from Gaza, while sailing at approximately 5 nautical miles off the Beit Lahia shore, in the northern side of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli soldiers arrested the fishermen and interrogated them on the Israeli gunboat at gunpoint. Up to this hour, they are still in detention. The arrested fishermen were identified as: Fahed Ziad Baker (38), Ihab Jawad Baker (36), Mohammad Ziad Baker (32), Nai'm Fahed Baker (16), Ziad Faged Baker (18) and Ali Alaa Baker (18).

Third: Confiscation of Fishing Boats

PCHR has followed up Israel’s violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza seawaters, particularly the confiscation of fishing boats.  During the reporting period, the Israeli forces confiscated Murad Rajab al-Hessi's fishing boat, while sailing at approximately 6 nautical miles off Deir al-Balah shore.

Fourth: Damaging Fishing Tools and Equipment

· At approximately 10:00 hours on Wednesday, 28^th November 2012, Israeli forces chased a fishing boat belonging to Murad Rajab al-Hessi, from Gaza, at nearly 6 nautical miles off Deir al-Balah shore; as a result, the boat was partially damaged.

· At approximately 08:00 hours on Wednesday, 28^th November 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire directly and intensively at a Palestinian fishing boat belonging to Khader Jamal Baker (20), from Gaza, while sailing at 3.5 nautical miles. As a result, the fishing boat was completely destroyed.

· At approximately 11:00 hours on Wednesday, 28^th November 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire intensively at a Palestinian fishing boat boarding 3 fishermen, belonging to Wafdi Suheil Baker (24), from Gaza, while sailing at 5 nautical miles off the Gaza shore. As a result of the shooting, the boat’s engine was damaged.

· At approximately 12:00 hours on Wednesday, 28^th November 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire directly and intensively at two Palestinian fishing boats belonging to Mohammad Najib Baker (60) and Tal'at Kamel Baker (22), both from Gaza, while sailing at 3 nautical miles, off the Gaza shore. As a result of the shooting, both the boats were partially damaged.

Fifth: The Targeting the Fishing Sector during the Israeli Offensive on the Gaza Strip (14 – 21 November 2012):

During the Israeli forces' offensive on the Gaza Strip, they directly targeted the fishing sector, which inflicted extensive losses on it, including the destruction of fishing ports, boats, nets, and other fishing equipment. According to PCHR's documentation, the Israeli forces carried out 30 attacks, including aerial and naval bombardment and shootings at public and private property of the fishing sector across the coast of the Gaza Strip. As a result of these attacks, the fishing sector suffered from massive losses and destruction (as presented in tables (2) and (3)), which included nearly 80 boats, dozens of engines, and fishing equipment. Most of the Israeli attacks against the fishing sector were focused in Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip, and the Central Gaza Strip.

As a result of the offensive on the Gaza Strip, the fishermen were deprived of fishing at sea throughout the duration of the offensive (8 days), which reflected significantly on the fishermen's financial conditions and livelihood, especially that the offensive concurred with the Israeli forces' systematic policy to prohibit the fishermen from fishing freely.

Table (1)

Table of Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza City

(01 – 30 November 2012)

Month	Firing	Killed Persons	Injuries	Arrest Incidents	Number of Detainees	Confiscation of Fishing Boats	Damage of Fishing Equipment
November	- 8 - Warplanes’ shelling of the fishing sector (north, central and south) during the Israeli offensive	-	-	4	15	1	- 5 - Partial damages (3 boats) - Complete destruction of 1 fishing boat - Damaging a fishing boat engine

Table (2)

Table of Damages to the Fishing Sector (Public Facilities) during the Israeli Offensive on the Gaza Strip (14 – 21 November 2012)[2]

Province	Nature of Damages	Total Damage
Northern Gaza	Partial damages	3 fishing boats
Gaza	Partial and Complete damages	- Partial damages to office of the Fishermen Association - Destruction of the Fishermen Café - Destruction of the port gateway - Partial damages to the fishermen port - Partial damages to 10 fishing boats
Central Gaza	Complete damage	Fishermen Syndicate Headquarters
Khan Younis	Partial and Complete damages	- Destruction of the Fishermen Syndicate Headquarters - Destruction of al-Tawfiq Fishing Association - Destruction of al-Mawasi clinic (serves the fishing sector) - Destruction of a youth center - Destruction of the refrigerator room and generator of the Ministry of Agriculture - Partial damages to chambers of 5 fishermen - Destruction of 6 doors of shops in the fish market
Rafah	Partial damages	3 fishing boats

Table (3)

Table of Damages to the Fishing Sector (Private Fishing Equipment) During the Israeli Offensive on the Gaza Strip (14 – 21 November 2012)[3]

Province	Nature of Damages	Total Damage
Central Rafah	Partial and Complete Damages	Fishing tools and equipment belonging to 42 fishermen
Khan Younis	Partial and Complete Damages	Fishing tools and equipment belonging to 24 fishermen

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[1] This fact sheet issued by PCHR is the tenth of its kind.  It addresses violations carried out by the ISRAELI FORCES against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip while practicing their work.  For more details, see Fact Sheets at: www.pchrgaza.org.

[2] PCHR holds a detailed list of the public damages inflicted upon the fishing sector during the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip (14-21 November 2012).

[3] PCHR holds a detailed list of the private damages inflicted upon the fishing sector during the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip (14-21 November 2012).