Al Mezan Condemns Ongoing Israeli Violations against Fishermen and Calls on the International Community to Intervene

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Al Mezan) condemns the continuation of Israeli violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, including the naval blockade and ongoing closure; the almost daily arbitrary arrests and humiliating and cruel treatment of fishermen; and the deliberate sabotage of fishermen’s equipment. In light of the aforementioned ongoing practices, Al Mezan reiterates its call upon the international community to take prompt actions to stop Israeli violations and protect civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to Al Mezan’s monitoring, at 9:30 am on Monday, 29 February 2016, Israeli Navy forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Al Sudaniya, northwest of Gaza City, and then surrounded two fishing boats. The fishermen on the first boat were identified as follows: Majed Fadel Hassan Bakr, 26, owner of the boat; his son Fadi, 30, and his other son Imran, 31; Mohamed Ziad Hassan Bakr, 30; Khalil Johar Khalil Bakr, 26. The second fishing boat belongs to Suhail Fadil Bakr, 51, and was carrying four fishermen: Fadi Suhail Fadel Bakir, 26; and his brother Khamis, 17; Yosri Nafith Ali Al Akhsham, 22; and Mohamed Nizar Mustafa Bakr, 18.

One fisherman, who was able to flee the area as an eyewitness, told Al Mezan that the two fishing boats were 500 meters apart and at a distance of approximately five nautical miles off the coast of Al Sudaniya, within the permitted fishing zone. One Israeli Navy boat and three rubber military boats approached the fishing boats and started firing at them. While they were trying to flee, bullets hit the engines and both fishing boats came to a complete stop. Meanwhile one of the Israeli soldiers directed humiliating verbal insults at the fishermen through a megaphone. Afterwards, the soldiers ordered the fishermen to undress and swim to the gunboats where they were arrested and taken to an undisclosed location while their fishing boats were confiscated.

Al Mezan reiterates its grave condemnation of Israeli violations against civilians in the oPt, and the ongoing blockade and closure of Gaza Strip, along with the tightening of restrictions on fishing activities in the Gaza sea. Al Mezan reaffirms that the right to work is an inherent human right and Israeli forces and authorities are committing systematic violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law by denying Palestinian fishermen their right to work; repeatedly targeting fishermen, resulting in death and injuries of Palestinian fishermen at sea; arbitrarily arresting fishermen; and practicing cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

Al Mezan reiterates its call upon the international community to intervene to ensure effective protection for the civilian population in the oPt and end the systematic Israeli violations against them.

Al Mezan reaffirms that the Gaza Strip is part of the oPt, thereby Israel, as the occupying power, must fulfill its obligations under international law which not only prohibits violations but also dictates respect of human rights and their implementation to the benefit of the civilian population. States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention must act upon their moral and legal obligations and take effective steps to lift the blockade/closure Israel imposes on the Gaza Strip, which constitutes an ongoing crime.

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