The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) escalated its attacks against civilians in Access Restricted Areas (ARA) in the Gaza Strip.
It continues to attack and arrest bird hunters and people who go for picnics in areas near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
The IOF also escalated its attacks against fishermen.
It opened fire at them in several occasions and arrested a number of them.
Since the cease-fire started on Tuesday, 26August 2014, the IOF launched 22 attacks against fishermen, injured 10 people, arrested 30 fishermen, and confiscated 13 fishing boats.
The IOF opened fire at Palestinian civilians in ARA (land) in 18 incidents.
As a result, one bird hunter was killed and another 18 were injured including five children.
The IOF arrested five people, including four children, in areas near the borders.
The IOF arrested 12 Palestinians including four children claiming that they were trying to sneak across the eastern and northern border.
At approximately 6:30 pm on Saturday, 6 December 2014, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast west of Al Waha resort-near the maritime border- west of Beit Lahiya in North Gaza district.
The Israeli boats surrounded a number of Palestinian boats and arrested 10 fishermen.
Al Mezan has identified their names as follows: · Ahmed Mohammed Zayed, 30; · His brother Mahmoud, 29; · Safwat Abdel Malek As-Sultan, 30; · Sa’ed Zayed Zayed, 32; · Yaser Othman Meqdad, 39; · His brother Adham, 27; · Bahaa Al Din Ziyad An-Najjar, 19; · Mahmoud Nasser Mahfouz, 24; · Sfiyan Ahmed Abu Msameh, 18; and · Belal Izzat Abi Oda, 32.
The Israeli intensive firing forced fishermen to leave their nets in the sea and sailed immediately to the land.
As a result, Raed Saleh Abu Warda lost 8 pieces of fishing nets and Subhi Mohammed Sa’adallah lost 6 pieces of nets.
At approximately 9:00 pm on the same day, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Mohammed Ameen Abu Warda, 22, and his brother Yousif, 19, while they were in their boat trying to get their fishing net back.
According to eyewitnesses, seven Israeli boats surrounded the two fishermen and forced them to take off their clothes, jump to the sea, swim towards them and arrested them.
The IOF confiscated five fishing boats in the two incidents and 45 pieces of fishing nets and equipment.
It’s worth noting that the IOF opened fire at fishermen while they were 1.
5 nautical miles off the coast.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights views with much concern the acceptance of Israeli claims that the IOF commits such serious violations for security reasons.
Accepting such an incorrect argument is acquiescence to the reality of collective punishment that continues to prevent Palestinian civilians from their rights to life, physical safety, security, labor, and freedom of movement and access.
Al Mezan reiterates its strong condemnation of the Israeli continuous attacks on Palestinian civilians in ARA.
Palestinian fishermen and farmers have the right to work free from fear and unlawful attack.
The IOF attacks, which often violate the rules of international humanitarian law, deprive them from their right to livelihood and an adequate standard of living.
These attacks have resulted in the arrest, injury and killing of fishermen.
Therefore, Al Mezan reiterates its calls on the international community to promptly intervene in order to end Israel’s human rights violations.
Al Mezan asserts that Gaza Strip is part of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and the agreements between Israel and Palestine under regional and international sponsorship, including Oslo Accords, do not exempt the IOF from its obligations under the international law.
Israel is obliged to end its violations and to respect human rights with respect to the Palestinians in oPt.