Israeli Navy Opens Fire On Palestinian Fishermen off the coast in Deir Al Balah and An-Nuseirat

Al Mezan

30-4-2013

At approximately 6:30 pm on 30^th April 2013, Israeli navy vessels opened fire on Palestinian fishermen off the coast in Deir Al Balah and An-Nuseira. The Palestinian fishing boats were located at a distance of 2.5 nautical miles off the shore. The Israeli fire that lasted sporadically for two hours forced the Palestinian fishermen to leave their livelihoods and withdraw to the shore.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Fishermen West of Khan Younis

Al Mezan

28-4-2013

On Sunday 28 April 2013, at approximately 3:00 am, Israeli naval vessels opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats at a distance of about two nautical miles, west of Khan Younis. The sporadic shooting lasted for about 30 minutes till 5:00 in the morning, and no injuries were reported.

IOF Opens Fire at Fishermen in Rafah

Al Mezan

27-4-2013

On Saturday 27 April 2013, at approximately 9:00 pm, Israeli naval vessels opened sporadic fire on Palestinian fishing boats at a distance of about two and half nautical miles off the coast in Rafah. According to information available at Al Mezan, one fishing boat which belongs to Kamal Musbah Shehada, 39, a resident of the Shate’ refugee camp in Gaza was hit with 15 bullets therefore damaging its motor.

IOF Confiscates Fishermen Nets North of Gaza

Al Mezan

27-4-2013

On Saturday 27 April 2013, at approximately 20:00 am, Israeli naval vessels confiscated some of the fishermen’s nests off coast, opposite al Mukhabarat Tower north of Gaza. Seven fishing nets belonging to Mohammed Abu Ryala, 22, and another eight belonging to Mohammed El Najjar were confiscated. Both are residents of al Shate’ Refugee Camp.

IOF Gunboats Open Fire on Fishermen in Several Areas in Middle Gaza

Al Mezan

27-4-2013

On Saturday 27^th April 2013, at approximately 3:00 am, Israeli naval vessels opened sporadic fire on Palestinian fishing boats at a distance of about two and a half nautical miles off coasts of An Nusirat, al Zawayda and Deir al Balah. The intermittent shooting lasted till 7:00 am on the same day forcing 35 fishing boats to withdraw from the sea.

Official: Israel fires at fishing boats off Gaza coast

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli gunboats on Thursday opened fire toward Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip, a local official said.

Israeli forces opened fire at the boats off north-west Gaza as the fishermen as approached the three-mile limit Israel imposes along the coastline, said Mahfouth Kabariti, head of a federation for fishermen and water sports.

No injuries were reported, Kabariti told Ma'an.

Israel's army announced in February that the fishing zone for Palestinians in Gaza would be reduced from six to three miles following a rocket attack.

The zone had been extended to six miles as part of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that ended an eight-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in November.

Israeli Navy Opens Fire At Palestinian Fishermen In Gaza

Wednesday April 24, 2013 19:21 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Wednesday morning April 24, 2013, Israeli Navy boats opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishing boats at the Gaza coast, an issue that forced them back to the shore without being able to fish, the Palestine News Network (PNN) has reported.

Palestinian Fishing Boats - File - PNN

Eyewitnesses said that the Navy fire dozens of live rounds into the air and a few rounds at the fishing boats while the fishermen were in the three nautical miles allotted to them by Israel.

The attack is similar to numerous attacks against the fishermen leading to dozens of casualties, arrests, and the destruction of fishing boats more than five years ago.

Under the Oslo accords in the mid-nineties, the Palestinians are allowed to fish in 20 nautical miles off the Gaza shore, but in 2008, Israel unilaterally reduced the fishing area to three nautical miles.

As part of the ceasefire agreement that ended the Israeli war on Gaza in November 2012, Palestinian fishermen were allowed to fish within six nautical miles off the Gaza coast, but the army continued to attack them in their allotted areas.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

24-4-2013

At approximately 6:45 am on Wednesday 24 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen West of Beit Lahyia

Al Mezan

18-4-2013

At approximately 7:20 pm on Thursday 18 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

15-4-2013

At approximately 6:30 am on Monday 15 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened sporadic fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen West of Beit Lahyia

Al Mezan

14-4-2013

At approximately 8:00 am on Sunday 14 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats Opposite Shatee Refugee Camp

Al Mezan

14-4-2013

At approximately 7:00 am on Sunday 14 April 2013, Israeli gunboats patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast opposite Shatee’ refugee camp northwest of Gaza City. One of the fishermen stated to Al Mezan that there Israeli gunboats stopped in the sea and opened fire at every Palestinian boat that reach three nautical miles. The sporadic fire lasted at about 11:00 am on the same day. The firing frightened the fishermen on the boats and they sailed to land immediately. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen West of Beit Lahyia

Al Mezan

14-4-2013

At approximately 5:00 pm on Sunday 14 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

13-4-2013

At approximately 7:30 pm on Saturday 13 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened sporadic fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen West of Beit Lahyia

Al Mezan

13-4-2013

At approximately 7:30 am on Saturday 13 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza Sea

PCHR 

 Wednesday, 10 April 2013 00:00

Fact Sheet

24 March 2013

Israeli Attacks on Fishermen in the Gaza Sea

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 17 attacks launched by the Israeli forces against Palestinian fishermen during the reporting period (01– 28 February 2013),[1] including 13 shooting incidents, in which 3 fishermen were wounded and 2 fishing boats were damaged; and 2 chase operations in which 6 fishermen arrested and two boats were confiscated.

It should be mentioned that the fishing ports in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, and in the central governorate remain unable to operate in full capacity due to the damages inflicted upon them during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip (14 – 21 November 2012).  Thus, the naval blockade that restricts the fishers' freedom of movement along with the damage inflicted on the Gaza Strip during the offensive, has had grave impacts on the economic and living situation of the fishermen.

Violations of the international humanitarian and human rights law

Israel’s attacks against Palestinian fishermen, who do not pose any threat to the Israeli naval troops, in the Gaza Strip constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.  Also, the restricted fishing area, which Israel enforces through arrests and arbitrary attacks, is a form of collective punishment prohibited under Article 33 of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention.

Furthermore, the killing and wounding of fishermen violate Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which stipulates that "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person."  Also, the arrest and detention of fishermen are considered an arbitrary conduct carried out without real reasons or mentioning the reason for arrest, in violation Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).  Additionally, the detention of Palestinian fishermen in Israel constitutes a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which provides that "Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive."

Additionally, Israel denies fishermen, through the confiscation of their fishing boats, their right to earn a living, even though the right to not be arbitrarily deprived from property is ensured under Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  This is also applicable to the right to just and favorable conditions of work, ensured under Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).  Similarly, Article 11 of ICESCR recognizes the "right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions.

First: Firing at Fishing Boats in the Gaza Strip Waters

During the reporting period, PCHR documented 13 cases in which Israeli forces fired at Palestinian fishermen in the sea off the Gaza shore.  These attacks took place within the 6 nautical miles allowed for fishermen to sail and fish in, according to the cease fire agreement signed between Israel and Palestinian armed groups under Egyptian and international auspices.

Three Fishermen Wounded with Israeli Naval Troops' Fires

· On 18 February 2013, two Israeli gunboats attacked a Palestinian fishing boat that was boarding 5 fishermen, while sailing approximately 3 nautical miles off the Soudaniya shore in the north of Gaza City.  The soldiers fired directly at the boat from a distance of approximately 10 metres.  As a result, Abdullah Mas'oud al-Ghoul (24), from Gaza, sustained a shrapnel wound in the left leg; and Abdel Razeq Mahmoud Jarbou' (16), from Gaza, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right leg.  The wounded fishers were transported to Shifa Hospital in Gaza for treatment where their wounds were described as moderate.

· On 21 February 2013, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat boarding 3 fishermen while sailing approximately 3 nautical miles off the Soudaniya shore in the north of Gaza City.  As a result, Ayman Adnan Mohammed Kababja (37) sustained a bullet wound in his right leg and a shrapnel wound in his left arm.  Kababja was taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza where his wounds were described as minor.

Second: Arresting Fishermen

During the reporting period, PCHR documented incidents in which the Israeli forces chased and arrested 6 Palestinian fishermen, on two separate occasions, while fishing at an estimated 1 - 3 nautical miles, off the shore of the Soudaniya area, in the northwest of Beit Lahia.

· On 10 February 2013, Israeli forces arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen, including 2 children, while sailing approximately 3 nautical miles off the Soudaniya shore in the north of Gaza City.  The arrested fishers were identified as: Thabet Mahmoud Abdelrazeq Baker (17); Haytham Tariq Baker (25); Amjad Tariq Baker (23); and 'Awad Tariq Baker (16).  Israeli soldiers put the four fishers under interrogation immediately after their arrest, took them to Ashdod port and then to Beit Hanoun "Erez" crossing.  At approximately 17:00 on the same day, Israeli forces released the fishers, but confiscated the fishing boat and other fishing tools, which are the property of Mohammed Abdel Razeq Said Baker (42).

· On 19 February 2013, Israeli gunboats cordoned a fishing boat boarding two fishermen, Mohammed Shihda Khalil Sa'dallah (60) and his son, Mahmoud (23).  The fishermen were sailing off the Soudaniya shore in the north of Gaza City.  The soldiers ordered the fishermen to take off their clothes, jump in the water and swim towards one of the gunboats.  They were arrested, their boat was confiscated and they were taken to Ashdod port.

Third: Confiscation of Fishing Boats

PCHR has followed up Israel’s violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea, particularly the confiscation of fishing boats for lengthy periods of time.  During the reporting period, the Israeli forces confiscated 2 fishing boats.

· On 10 February 2013, Israeli forces, stationed off the Soudaniya area in the north of Gaza city, chased and confiscated a fishing boat, which is the property of Mohammed Abdelrazeq Baker (42), while sailing approximately 3 nautical miles off the Soudaniya shore in the north of Gaza City.  The boat was boarding 4 fishermen who were arrested.

· On 19 February 2013, Israeli gunboats chased and confiscated a fishing boat, which is the property of Mohammed Shihda Khalil Sa'dallah (60), from Jablia in the north of the Gaza Strip. The fishermen were sailing approximately 1 nautical mile off the beach.  The naval troops also arrested Sa'dallah and his son.

Fourth: Damaging of fishing tools and equipment

· On 18 February 2013, Israeli gunboats fired at a Palestinian fishing boat, which is the property of Mahmoud Mohammed Jarbou', from Gaza, while sailing approximately 3 nautical miles off the Soudaniya shore in the north of Gaza City.  As a result, the fishing boat was damaged.

· On 21 February 2013, Israeli gunboats opened fire at fishing boat, which is the property of Abdullah Mohammed al-'Absey (53), from Gaza, while sailing approximately 3 nautical miles off the Soudaniya shore in the north of Gaza City.  As a result, the boat was damaged as it sustained many gunshots, one of which hit the engine.

Table of Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza City

(01 – 28 February 2013)

Month	Firing	Killed Persons	Injuries	Arrest Incidents	Number of Detainees	Confiscation of Fishing Boats	Damaging of Fishing Equipment	Total
February 2013	13	0	3	2	6	2	2	17

---

[1] This fact sheet issued by PCHR is the fourteenth 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.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

10-4-2013

At approximately 07:15 pm on Wednesday 10 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened sporadic fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Fishermen West of Beit Lahyia

Al Mezan

7-4-2013

At approximately 9:30 pm on Sunday 7 April 2013, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, near the maritime border, northwest of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. No Casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Navy Targets Fishermen in the Sea West of Beit Lahia

Al Mezan

5-4-2013

At approximately 10:40 pm on Friday 5 May 2013, Israeli Navy vessels opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats, in the west and north of Al-Waha resort, near the maritime buffer zone. No injuries were reported.
 

Gaza Strip: Attacks in the border areas and their consequences

PCHR

Thursday, 04 April 2013 00:00

PCHR Fact Sheet  March 2013  Following disengagement from the Gaza Strip in September 2005, Israel unilaterally and illegally established a so-called “buffer zone”, an area prohibited to Palestinians along the land and sea borders of the Gaza Strip. The precise area designated by Israel as a “buffer zone” is not clear and this Israeli policy is typically enforced with live fire. The establishment of the ‘buffer zone’ is illegal under both Israeli and international law. Preventing Palestinians from accessing their lands and fishing areas violates numerous provisions of international human rights law, including the right to work, the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Enforcing the “buffer zone” through the use of live fire often results in, inter alia, the direct targeting of civilians and/or indiscriminate attacks, both of which constitute war crimes. Following the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in November 2012, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian armed groups was brokered by the Egyptian government, which included terms related to access to land and sea. In an online statement on 25 February 2013, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) declared that fishermen could now access the sea up to six nautical miles offshore, and that farmers could now access lands in the border area up to 100m from the border fence. However, both references have since been removed from the statement. Then, on 21 March 2013, the Israeli forces’ spokesperson announced re-reducing the fishing area allowed for Palestinian fishermen from 6 nautical miles to 3 nautical miles.  Nonetheless, the COGAT Monthly Report for November 2012 still states: “Following operation "Pillar of Defense" (November 14-21), a ceasefire was agreed upon; as a part of it and [sic] the fishing area in Gaza was increased from 3 miles to 6.” Regarding access to land, in correspondence with Gisha, on 11 March 2013, an Israeli spokesperson declared that “the residents of Gaza are required not to approach within 300m of the security fence”. These conflicting messages about the parameters of the “buffer zone”, particularly on land, have resulted in an increase of risk for the safety of civilians and their property in the border areas.                                                                                                                                  Dimensions On land, inside Palestinian territory Distance from the border fence, up to which access is permitted: · Second Intifada (2000): 150 metres · According to Israel (2010) : 300 metres · 22 November 2012: unclear parameters · 25 February 2013: 100 metres · 11 March 2013: 300 metres In reality, attacks against civilians take place anywhere up to approximately 1.5 kilometres inside the border fence. This constitutes approximately 17% of the total territory of the Gaza Strip. At sea, off the coast of the Gaza Strip Distance from the shore, up to which access is permitted: · Oslo Accords (1994): 20 nautical miles (nm) · Bertini Commitment (2002): 12 nm · October 2006: 6 nm · End of 2007 : 3 nm · 22 November 2012: 6 nm In addition, access is consistently denied in the following areas: · 1.5 nm in the north along the maritime boundary with Israel · 1 nm in the south along the maritime boundary with Egypt Impact On land · Approximately 27,000 dunums, 35% of the Gaza Strip's agricultural land, can only be accessed under high personal risk, as Israeli attacks may result in injury or death of civilians. · 95% of the restricted area is arable land. · After the evacuation of settlements (2005) and ‘Operation Cast Lead’ (2008-2009), the majority of Palestinian families living in the border areas abandoned their land and homes. At sea · Palestinians are completely prevented from accessing 85% of the Palestinian maritime areas recognised in the 1994 Gaza Jericho Agreement. · Approximately 3,700 fishermen work under high personal risk every day at sea. · Approximately 8,200 persons work in the fishing industry. · Approximately 65,000 persons, including individuals who work in the fishing industry and their dependents, are affected by the “buffer zone” restrictions at sea. · The area near the coast is markedly over-fished. Attacks March 2013 Attacks Total “Buffer zone” on land “Buffer zone” at sea Shelling 0 0 0 Shooting 16 7 9 Incursions 4 4 0* Land levelling 0 0 0 Detention incidents 3 3 0 Total incidents 23 14 9 * These numbers do not represent all the incursions into Palestinian waters by Israeli naval forces, only the reported incidents. More often, the reported incidents involve shooting, injury and/or killing. Consequences of attacks a. Deaths and injuries March 2013 Consequences Total “Buffer zone” on land “Buffer zone” at sea Death of persons 0 0 0 Minors 0 0 0 Women 0 0 0 Injury of persons 5 5 0 Minors 0 0 0 Women 0 0 0 b. Property related violations April 2013 Consequences Total “Buffer zone” on land “Buffer zone” at sea Property damaged 0 0 0 Property confiscated 0 0 0 Dunums razed 0 0 0 c. Detention March 2013 Consequences Total “Buffer zone” on land “Buffer zone” at sea Detention incidents 3 3 0 Total persons detained 3 3 0 Minors detained 3 3 0 Women detained 0 0 0