The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have escalated their attacks against Palestinian fishermen off of the coast of  Gaza amidst the ongoing siege regime through which Israel  prevents the entry of fishing equipment  vital for the survival of the fishing community. Fishermen in Gaza are being deprived of their basic right to work, amidst violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.

According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, the IOF arrested 14 fishermen and confiscated four fishing boats within  less than 24 hours, beginning on Monday, 21 December 2015, representing a serious escalation in attacks against the Palestinian fishing community. Al Mezan expresses its strong condemnation of the arrests and confiscation and calls on the international community to intervene to protect fishermen in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and stop violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.

According to Al Mezan's monitoring and documentation, since the beginning of 2015 until the publishing of this press release, the IOF killed one fisherman, injured 17,and arrested 63. The IOF confiscated 19 fishing boats, destroyed fishing equipment on 12 occasions, and opened fire on Palestinian fishermen in 118 incidents during the same period.

On Tuesday, 22 December 2015, at approximately 10:00 am, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishermen off of the coast of Al Shatee’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City. The IOF boats surrounded two Palestinian fishing boats and arrested 10 fishermen, including two children.  Al Mezan has identified them as follows: 

• Attaf A’ed Bakir,33 , owner of the first boat;
• His brother Moheeb Bakir, 30;
• His brother Mohammed Bakir, 14;
• Mahmoud Zuhair AlAshwah, 26;
• Yousri Nafiz Al Akhsham‘Megdad’,22;
• Bahjat Khalil Bakir, 45;
• His son Khalil Bakir, 24;
• Hasan Zaki Bakir, 34;
• Mohammed Jamal Bakir, 27; and
• Shadi Jad Bakir, 12.

The fishermen were arrested and taken to Ashdod seaport.

The day before, on Monday, 21 December 2015, at approximately 6:00 pm, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishermen off of the coast of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district. According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, the IOF’s rubber boats surrounded two Palestinian fishing boats and arrested four fishermen. Al Mezan has identified them as follows: 

• Wissam Abdel Fattah Al Sultan, 36;
• Amjad Jomaa’ Ahmed Zayed, 38;
• Khadir Jamal Ismael Bakir, 22; and
• Ayman Jameel Awad Allah, 19.

The fishermen were taken to Ashdod seaport. Other fishermen that were nearby when the incident took place, were reportedly terrified and abandoned their work to  quickly return to shore. At 7:30 am on Tuesday, 22 December 2015, the IOF released the aforementioned detained fishermen at Erez crossing, while keeping their boats and fishing equipment in custody.

The damages to the Palestinian fishing sector are not  limited to direct violations against fishermen, but extend through Israel’s policy limiting fishing waters to a violation of their right to work and seek an adequate standard of living. In line with the 1993 Oslo Accords, Palestinian fishermen are entitled to 20 nautical miles of fishing grounds; however, Israel  restricts the fishermen to six nautical miles or less, where the catch is almost completely diminished and the fishermen are barely able to work. The restriction is a clear violation of the fishermen’s right to work and to access land and natural resources.

The Israeli authorities continue to prevent the entry of fishing equipment into Gaza, including engines  and the fiberglass used to make boats. This restriction has an enormous impact on the ability of the fishing community to survive with the deteriorating standards of living and increasing poverty and unemployment.

Al Mezan strongly condemns Israel’s ongoing siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the continued and systematic attacks against Palestinian fishermen that include  death and injury,, arrest and ill-treatment. In addition, Al Mezan condemns Israel’s damage, destruction and confiscation of Palestinian fishing equipment and boats, which represent their only source of income.

Al Mezan reiterates its call on the international community to promptly intervene to uphold its legal obligations towards civilians in the oPt and to respect its obligations under international law to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of gross violations of international humanitarian law.

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