The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue to escalate its violation against Palestinian fishermen in Gaza waters.
The IOF regularly opens fire against fishermen, detains them, and confiscates their fishing boats, preventing them from working.
According to investigations conducted by the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the IOF has escalated its attacks on Palestinian fishermen over the course of October.
  In this month alone, the IOF carried out 20 attacks on fishermen, arrested eight, impounded two boats, damaged a motor engine of a boat, and destroyed fishing nets and equipment.
 These attacks took place chronologically as follows, starting with the most recent incident: 1.
       At approximately 9:30 am on Monday 22 October 2012, Israeli gunboats patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast opposite As-Sudaniya area in North Gaza district.
  The IOF ships surrounded a Palestinian fishing boat and then forced four fishermen to take off their clothes and swim towards them.
  The IOF arrested them, took them to unknown destination, and confiscated their boat.
Al Mezan has identified the names of the arrested fishermen as follows:  ·         RamezEzat Baker, 41; ·         BiyanKhamees Baker, 17; ·         KhameesSubhi Baker, 42; and ·         ‘Arafat Mohammed Baker, 20.
They are residents of Ash-Shatee’ refugee camp 2.
       At approximately 10:30 pm on Saturday 20 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of BeitLahiya, North Gaza district.
  The firing lasted for about 40 minutes.
It frightened the fishermen on the boats and they sailed to land immediately.
  No casualties or injuries were reported.
3.
       At approximately 6:30 am on Saturday 20 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of BeitLahiya, North Gaza district.
  The firing frightened the fishermen on the boats and they sailed to land immediately.
  No casualties or injuries were reported.
4.
    At approximately 7:00 pm on Saturday 20 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire and a flare bomb at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast west of Ash-Shatee’ refugee camp, west of Gaza district.
  The firing frightened the fishermen on the boats and they sailed to land immediately.
  No casualties or injuries were reported.
5.
       At approximately 8:00 am on Friday 19 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coastwest of Ash-Shatee’ refugee camp, west of Gaza district.
  The firing frightened the fishermen on the boats and they sailed to land immediately.
  No casualties or injuries were reported.
6.
       At approximately 7:00 am on Saturday 13 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of BeitLahiya, North Gaza district.
  The firing frightened the fishermen on the boats and they sailed to land immediately.
  No casualties or injuries were reported.
7.
       At approximately 6:30 am on Friday 12 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of BeitLahiya, North Gaza district.
  No casualties or injuries were reported.
8.
       At approximately 7:30 am on Wednesday 10 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of BeitLahiya, North Gaza district.
  No casualties or injuries were reported.
9.
       At approximately 7:40 am on Sunday 7 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of BeitLahiya, North Gaza district.
The IOF ships then surrounded a Palestinian fishing boat and forced four fishermen to take off their clothes and swim to one of the Israeli vessels, where the four were taken into custody.
Al Mezan has identified those detained as: MajedFadelHasan Baker, 52; and his sons: Omran, 28; Fadi, 27; and Mohammed, 20.
The IOF also confiscated their boat.
  The four are from Ash-Shatee’ refugee camp.
10.
    At approximately 6:30 am on Saturday 6 October 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of BeitLahiya, North Gaza district.
  The firing frightened the fishermen on the boats and they sailed to land immediately.
  No casualties or injuries were reported.
Al Mezan reiterates its strong condemnation of Israel’s continuous violations against Palestinian fishermen.
  Al Mezan considers Israel’s demarcation of a no-go line for Palestinian fishermen (marked by illuminated buoys), the ongoing maritime siege, and the policy of preventing fishermen from working in the areas most full of fish as part of a series of collective punishments imposed on the Gaza Strip.
  Al Mezan asserts that the silence of the international community towards the Israeli violations has encouraged Israel to commit more violations.
Therefore, Al Mezan reiterates its previous call on the international community to promptly intervene to uphold its moral obligations and its commitments under international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War, and to ensure respect for the principles of international humanitarian law at all times.
 It also calls on the international community to take all necessary measures to end Israel’s gross violations of human rights.
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