IOF Arrests Five Fishermen and Sinks their Boat, Al Mezan Condemns IOF Attacks on Fishermen and Calls on International Community to Protect Them

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have escalated their systematic attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.
The IOF regularly open fire at fishermen, detain them, and confiscate their fishing boats, which prevents them from working.
Yesterday, the IOF opened fire at a fishing boat causing it to sink.
The IOF arrested fishermen who were on its board.
According to Al Mezan's monitoring, the IOF arrested five fishermen including two children, carried out nine attacks against fishermen (injuring three), damaged one boat, and sank another during January 2015 only.
At approximately 7:00 pm on Monday 26 January 2015, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat off the coast west of As-Sudaniya area, in North-Gaza district.
IOF gunboats surrounded the fishing boat and then forced the five fishermen to take off their clothes and swim towards them.
The IOF arrestedthem and then sunk their boat.
Al Mezan has identified the names of the arrested fishermen as follows: آ· Rami Abdel Mu,tti Al Habeel, 36; آ· His son Sa,eed, 13; آ· Abdel Mu,tti Ibrahim Al Habeel, 16; آ· Mer,eb Nahedh Abu Ryala, 32; and آ· Ibrahim Nassar, 24.
They are residents of the Al Shate, (Beach) refugee camp west of Gaza City.
At approximately 9:30 am on Wednesday 21 January 2015, Israeli gunboats opened fire at small Palestinian fishing boat with four fishermen on its board off the coast west of As-Sudaniya area.
As a result, three fishermen were injured.
Al Mezan identified their names as follows: آ· Atef Mohammed Baker, 19, who sustained bullet injury in the right thigh; آ· Bayan Khanis Baker, 20, who sustained shrapnel wound in the forehead; and آ· Mohammed Saber Baker, 18, who sustained bruises in his legs when he fell down while the Israeli gunboats were chasing them.
The injured fishermen were admitted to the Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
Their boat was damaged.
Al Mezan reiterates its strong condemnation of the IOF's continuous violationsin access-restricted areas including the sea, and asserts that the right of Palestinian fishermen to access fishing grounds in Gaza's territorial waters is a basic right.
The IOF attacks against fishermen show clearly Israel's systematic violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Therefore, Al Mezan calls on the international community to promptly intervene in order to end Israel's continuous human rights violations against Palestinian fishermen.
Al Mezan asserts that Gaza Strip is part of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and the agreements between the Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization under regional and international sponsorship, including the Oslo Accords, do not exempt the IOF from their obligation under international law; including abiding by the rules protecting civilians and respecting their human rights.
End