IOF Opens Fire on Fishermen and Arrests Two

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have considerably escalated their systematic violations against Palestinian fishermen, despite Israel's 3 April 2016 announcement of the extension of Gaza´s fishing zone to nine nautical miles. According to Al Mezan’s monitoring and documentation, the number of Israeli violations has increased ten-fold compared to the same period last year. These violations range from shooting at and arresting fishermen, to confiscating fishing boats and equipment, as well as blocking the entry of fiberglass necessary for building new boats.

Al Mezan’s monitoring and documentation shows a significant surge in the number of violations between 3 April 2016 and the time of writing compared to the same period last year. During this period in 2016, Al Mezan documented 24 cases of arrest of fishermen, nine cases of boat confiscation, and three cases of fishing equipment destruction. During the same period in 2015, Al Mezan documented two cases of arrest, one case of boat confiscation, and three cases of fishing equipment destruction. This comparison shows a clear escalation in the attacks against Palestinian fishermen, despite Israeli claims of easing the blockade and restrictions on fishing activities.

In a recent incident at approximately 10 am on Saturday, 14 May 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat off the coast of Al-Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City. Two Israeli gunboats chased a Palestinian rowing boat for about one nautical mile while continuously firing at it. The gunboats surrounded the row boat and ordered the fishermen onboard, Kareem Mohamed Mahmoud Koullab, 17, and his brother Kayid, 20, to undress and swim to one of the gunboats. The two fishermen were arrested and taken to Ashdod seaport, while their boat was confiscated and towed to the same port. According to Al Mezan’s monitoring and documentation, the two fishermen were interrogated before their release at 5 PM through Erez crossing, while their boat remains confiscated.

In another incident, at about 9 AM on Wednesday, 11 May 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Al-Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City. No injuries were reported but the fishermen ceased their work and sailed back to Gaza seaport.

In a third incident, at approximately 7 AM on Thursday, 12 May 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire and used water cannons against Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Al-Soudania in northwestern Gaza. Fishermen were forced to flee the area and sail back to the shore. No injuries were reported.

Al Mezan reiterates its condemnation of the ongoing Israeli violations against Palestinian fishermen. Al Mezan stresses that a fisherman’s right to work is an inherent human right, and that the Israeli forces are committing systematic violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law by repeatedly targeting fishermen, often resulting in death, injury, and arbitrary arrest in a degrading manner, as well as depriving fishermen of their livelihoods and the right to work.

Al Mezan denounces the silence of the international community and their disregard for their legal obligations under international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, towards the civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territory. Al Mezan asserts that the silence of the international community has encouraged Israel to escalate the perpetration of violations, disregard the resolutions of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and hamper the work of UN agencies and Special Procedures Mechanism.

Accordingly, Al Mezan reiterates its calls to the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to exert pressure on Israel to ensure respect for international law, and end the blockade of the Gaza Strip that amounts to a serious violation of international law.

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Project funded by the European Union - Joint project of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights,  Adalah, and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, in cooperation with the Treatment & Rehabilitation Center and Gaza Community Mental Health Programme. The contents of this workshop are the sole responsibility of Al Mezan and Gaza Community Mental Health Programme and under no circumstances should be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.