IOF Kills Palestinian Fisherman and Injures another in North Gaza District, Al Mezan Condemns Israeli Attacks on Fishermen

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.
 Recently, the IOF killed a fisherman and injured his brother in North Gaza district.
According to the documentation conducted by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, at approximately 9:30 am on Friday 27 September 2012, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort—near the maritime border—northwest of BeitLahiya, North Gaza district.
  The Israeli ships then opened fire on two fishermen.
The fishermen were terrified and left their fishing nets and sailed to the south wards.
As a result, Fahmiand his YousifSaleh Abu Riyash (22 and 19 respectively) were injured.
Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described the injury of Fahmi as critical.
A bullet entered his left thigh and stabled in the abdomen.
At approximately 10:30 pm on the same day, medical sources announced his death.
His brother Yousif sustained bullet wound in the left hand and his injury was described as moderate.
According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, the two injured fishermen were carried to the south to the nearest point where an ambulance can reach.
An ambulance from the Civil Defense carried them to the hospital.
The two brothers are from As-Salateen area in BeitLahiya, in North Gaza district.
Al Mezan reiterates its strong condemnation of Israel’s continuous violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law in its dealings with 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.
  It is part of the general Israeli siege on Gaza, which is a form of collective punishment that is banned under international law and may amount to a war crime and a crime against humanity.
Therefore, Al Mezan calls 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 IHL at all times.
  It also calls on the international community to take all necessary measures to end Israel’s gross violations of human rights, to bring the perpetrators to justice, and to take immediate steps to lift the illegal siege imposed on Gaza, including by ensuring freedom to work for Palestinian fishermen.
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