Ref: 31/2023
Date: 09 March 2023
Time: 12:40 GMT
Th Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the continued Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea; the latest was this morning when 4 fishermen have been injured with rubber-coated bullets and their boat has been damaged.
According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 09 March 2023, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) surrounded a Palestinian fishing boat sailing within 3 nautical miles off northwestern Beit Lahia Shore, northern Gaza Strip. IOF fired rubber-coated bullets at a boat belonging to fisherman Bahaa Baker, causing damage to it and wounding 4 fishermen namely: Mohammad ‘AbdulRahman Baker (39), Mahmoud Mohammad Baker (25), Khamees Mohammad Baker (25), and Yousra Zakareya Baker (25), all of them from Gaza City. The injured fishermen were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for treatment and their wounds were deemed minor and moderate.
It is noteworthy that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) restrict work of Palestinian fishermen and allow them to sail only within 6 to 12 nautical miles in the western Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of 2023, PCHR has documented injury of 4 fishermen, arrest of 6 others, keeping 2 fishing boats in custody and damaging one fishing boat.
PCHR condemns the ongoing Israeli practices against fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea as they constitute a grave violation of all international conventions and instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Also, the Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen violate the Fourth Geneva Convention relevant to the protection of civilians in time of war and stipulates the need to protect workers and guarantee their integrity.
PCHR calls upon the international community, including the State Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to pressurize the Israeli occupation authorities to cease attacks and persecution of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza waters, and to allow fishermen to sail and fish freely. Additionally, PCHR calls upon the Israeli authorities to compensate fishermen for their losses caused by the continued Israeli attacks and to release the confiscated fishing boats and equipment.