Israeli Attacks on Fishermen in the Gaza Sea

PCHR

Tuesday, 10 December 2013 00:00

Factsheet

Israeli Naval forces continued to carry out attacks on Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip during the reporting period[1] (01-30 November 2013), including 12 shooting incidents resulting in the injury of 1 fisherman and causing damage to fishing equipment, and 3 chasing incidents that led to the arrest of 6 fishermen and confiscation of 3 fishing boats and other equipment.

 

The issuance of this factsheet coincides with the aggravation of Palestinian fishermen’s suffering in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli naval blockade and preventing fishermen from fishing freely as well as the severe lack of fuel supplies needed to run the fishing boats and equipment.  According to PCHR’s follow-up, hundreds of Palestinian boats have broken down and more than 4000 fishermen have suffered due to being denied access to the fuel needed for their work.  This has led to serious deterioration in living conditions of a population of more than 75,000 that depends on the fishing sector as a main livelihood.[2]

Although Israeli authorities limited the fishing distance in Gaza Sea to 6 nautical miles, they neither complied with that distance nor allowed Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip to sail and fish freely, and continued their attacks against them.  PCHR documented all attacks carried out within the distance of 6 nautical miles, which proves that Israeli forces' policies aim to tighten restrictions on the Gaza Strip's fishermen and their sources of livelihood.

Violations of the International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law

Israel’s attacks against Palestinian fishermen, who do not pose any threat to Israeli soldiers, in the Gaza Strip constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, relevant to the protection of the civilian population and respect for its rights, including every person's right to work, and the right to life, liberty and security of person, as codified in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), despite the fact that Israel is a State Party to the Covenant.  Furthermore, these attacks occurred in a time where the fishers did not pose any threat to the Israeli naval troops, as they were doing their job to secure a living.  Israeli violations in the reporting period were as follows:

First: Firing at Fishing Boats in the Gaza Strip Waters

During the reporting period, PCHR documented 12 cases in which Israeli forces fired at Palestinian fishermen in the sea off the Gaza Strip shore. Seven attacks of which took place off Beit Lahia shore in the northern Gaza Strip; 3 attacks took place off the Rafah shore in the south of the Gaza Strip; one was off the Gaza City shore in the south of the Gaza Strip; and the last one was off Khan Younis shore, south of the Gaza Strip.  It is noted that all these incidents happened within the 6 nautical miles allowed for fishermen to sail and fish in, according to the cease fire agreement concluded between Israel and Palestinian armed groups under Egyptian and international auspices. 

Second: Wounding a Fisherman

On 10 November 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Resort shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing 3 nautical miles off the shore. As a result, Mahmoud Saleh Abu Wardah (18) sutained shrapnel injuries to the right side of his abdomen.  Two Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing canoe boarded by two fishermen; Saddam Saleh Abu Wardah (23) and his brother, Mahmoud (18).  Israeli Naval Forces forced the two fishermen to get on one of the gunboats and arrested them.  They then pulled their fishing canoe and confiscated it.

Third: Arrest of Fishermen:

PCHR documented incidents in which Israeli Naval forces arrested and chased 6 fishermen, including 2 children, in 3 separate incidents while they were sailing within 1-3 nautical miles off Beit Lahia shore in the northern Gaza Strip and Rafah shore in south of the Gaza Strip.

- On 10 November 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed of al-Wahah Resort shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire against Palestinian fishing boats sailing 3 nautical miles of the shore.  As a result, Mahmoud Saleh Abu Wardah (18) sutained shrapnel injuries to the right side of his abdomen.  Two Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing canoe boarded by two fishermen; Saddam Saleh Abu Wardah (23) and his brother, Mahmoud (18).  Israeli Naval Forces forced the two fishermen to get on one of the gunboats, arrested them and confiscated their boat.  The two fishermen were subject to investigation and were accused of exceeding the limit allowed for fishing.  In the late evening of the same day, they were released.

- On 17 November 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing 1.5 nautical miles off the shore.  An Israeli gunboat surrounded a fishing canoe boarded by ‘Ammar As’ad al-Sultan (21) and Mohsin Akram Zayed (24), both from al-Salatin neighborhood in Beit Lahia.  Israeli naval forces forced the two fishermen to jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat.  They were arrested and taken to Ashdod Seaport, where they were subject to investigation.  At approximately 03:00, they were released via Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing.

- On 27 November 2013, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing 1 nautical mile off Rafah port in the west of Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip.  Israeli gunboats surrounded a Palestinian fishing canoe boarded by two fishermen and opened fire at it.  The two fishermen were arrested and their canoe was confiscated as well as other fishing equipment, of which a 500-meter fishing net.  The arrested fishermen were identified as Ahmed Khalil Hasounah (16) and Mahmoud Mohammed Hassounah (17), both from the Swedish Village, southwest of Rafah.

Fourth: Confiscation of Fishing Equipment

During the reporting period, PCHR documented 3 chasing incidents in the Gaza Waters resulting in the confiscation of 3 fishing boats and other fishing equipment (fishing nets). The confiscation incidents were as follows:

- On 10 November 2013, Israeli naval forces confiscated a fishing canoe while sailing at approximately 3 nautical miles off al-Waha Resort shore, west of Beit Lahiah in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli naval forces also confiscated fishing nets belonging to Hatim Saleh Abu Wardah.

On 17 November 2013, Israeli naval forces confiscated a fishing canoe while sailing at approximately 1.5 nautical miles off al-Waha Resort shore, west of Beit Lahiah in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli naval forces also confiscated ten 1000-meter fishing nets belonging to ‘Ammar As’ad al-Sultan.

On 27 November 2013, Israeli naval forces confiscated a fishing canoe sailing at approximately 1 nautical mile off the Rafah port in the west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Fifth: Damaging Fishing Equipment

 

- On 09 November 2013, Israeli naval forces stationed off the Beit Lahiah shore in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian gunboats sailing at approximately 5 nautical miles.  As a result, fishing nets belonging to Hatim Saleh Abu Wardah (40), Mohammed Amin Abu Wardah (21), Fadel Saleh Abu Wardah (32) and Subhi Mohammed Sa’adallah (62) were damaged.

            

   Table of Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza City in November 2013

Month	Firing	Killed Persons	Injuries	Arrest Incidents
November 2013	12	0	1	3

Number of Detainees	Confiscation of Fishing Boats	Confiscation of Fishing Equipment	Damaging Fishing Equipment
6	3	2	1

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[1] This fact sheet issued by PCHR is the twenty-first 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] Over the past years, the people of the Gaza Strip have almost-completely depended on fuel smuggled from Egypt through border tunnels.  Since mid-June 2013, supplies of Egyptian fuel stopped resulting in damages that made economic activities stop in many sectors, including the naval fishing blockade.