Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza Sea (PCHR fact sheet, June 2013)

PCHR

Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
 Fact Sheet
 

Israeli Attacks on Fishermen in the Gaza Sea

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 29 attacks launched by the Israeli forces against Palestinian fishermen during the reporting period (01 March – 31 May 2013),[1] including 29 shooting incidents in which a fisherman was wounded; and 2 chase operations in which 2 fishermen were arrested and their boats and other fishing tools were confiscated.

Israeli forces continued to target Gazan fishermen and banning them from fishing past 3 nautical miles.  Israeli forces violated the cease-fire agreement reached between Palestinian armed groups and the Israeli forces, under Egyptian and international auspices on 22 November 2012, in which the allowed fishing area was set to 6 nautical miles; however, they limited it to 3 nautical miles in the period 21 March – 20 May 2013.  The 6-nautical-mile limit has reinforced since 21 May 2013.

According to PCHR's follow-ups, 85% of the Israeli attacks took place within the allowed fishing area, which proves that Israeli forces' policies aim to tighten restrictions on the Gaza Strip's fishermen and their means of making 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 their 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 29 cases in which Israeli forces fired at Palestinian fishermen in the sea off the Gaza shore.  As a result, a fisherman was wounded in one of the shootings while fishing off the Rafah shore.  These attacks took place 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.

1 Fisherman Wounded with Israeli Naval Troops' Fires

· On 01 May 2013, at approximately 05:00, Israeli forces opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat off the Rafah shore in the south of the Gaza Strip.  As a result, the boat's mast fell on Adel Abdelkarim Baker's (51) head, a fisherman from Gaza City.  Baker suffered from a hemorrhage in the head and was taken to Abu-Youssef al-Najar hospital in Rafah for treatment, but as he was in a serious condition, he was later transferred to the European Gaza Hospital.

Second: Arresting Fishermen

During the reporting period, PCHR documented incidents in which the Israeli forces chased and arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen while fishing at an estimated 70 meters off the shore of al-Waha resort, in the north of Gaza city.

· At approximately 21:30 on 19 May 2013, an Israeli gunboat cordoned a Palestinian fishing boat boarding two fishermen while sailing at approximately 70 meters off the shore of al-Waha resort.  The Israeli troops fired in the vicinity of the boat, forced them to take their clothes off, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboats.  They were arrested and their fishing boat was confiscated. They were released at 11:30 on Monday, 20 May 2013.  The fishermen were identified as: Mahmoud Mohammed Mohammed Zayed (25) and his brother, Khaled (20).

Third: Confiscation of Fishing Boats and Fishing Nets

PCHR has followed up and documented Israel’s violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea, particularly the confiscation of fishing boats and fishing equipment for lengthy periods of time.  During the reporting period, the Israeli forces confiscated 1 fishing boat and other fishing tools (18 pieces of fishing nets).

· At approximately 21:30 on 19 May 2013, an Israeli gunboat cordoned a Palestinian fishing boat while sailing at approximately 70 meters off the shore of al-Waha resort, north of Gaza City.  The Israeli troops fired in the vicinity of the boat, arrested the two fishermen who were on board, and confiscated their boat.

· At approximately 19:00 on 19 May 2013, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a group of fishing boat while sailing at approximately 3 nautical miles off the Deir al-Balah shore in the central Gaza Strip in order to terrify the fishermen and force them to stop working. The Israeli naval soldiers then started confiscating fishing equipment, which belong to 4 fishermen.  They confiscated items were 18 pieces of fishing nets.


Table of Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza City within the Past 3 Months
(March, April and May 2013)

Month
Firing
Killed Persons
Injuries
Arrest Incidents
Number of Detainees
Confiscation of Fishing Boats
Confiscation of Fishing Equipment
Total
March 2013
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
April 2013
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
May 2013
12
0
1
1
2
1
1
15


Diagram of Israeli Violations against Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza City within the Past 3 Months (March – April – May 2013)




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

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