Ref:43/2020

Date: 10 May 2020

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the ongoing Israeli attacks against Palestinian  fishermen, which led to the injury of 3 fishermen and the damage of 2 fishing boats.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 08:30 on Friday, 08 May 2020, Israeli naval forces stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, chased and surrounded Palestinian fishing boats while the latter sailed at 2 nautical miles. Israeli naval forces heavily fired live and rubber bullets and pumped wastewater at the fishing boats. As a result, 3 fishermen were wounded and identified as:

1. Majed Fadel Hasan Baker (59), who was shot and injured with a rubber bullet in his head;
2. Mohamed ‘Imran Sabri Baker (26), who was shot and injured with a rubber bullet in his hand; and
3. Mohamed Suhail Baker (25), who sustained bruises in his neck due to pumping wastewater at a fishing boat.

 The fishermen were taken to al-Shifa Hospital for treatment.

In the same incident, 2 fishing boats were damaged; the first one , property of Hasan Baker, sustained several bullets that damaged it and its engine, while the second boat, property of Sabri Mahmoud Sa’ied  Baker, sustained several bullets that damaged it and its engine as well. The fishermen were able to pull the damaged boats. The Israeli naval forces’ shooting and chasing continued until 11:00, causing fear and panic among the fishermen and forcing them to flee.

Fisherman Mohamed ‘Imran Sabri, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

” At approximately 05:00, 3 of my brothers and I headed to the sea for fishing by a fishing boat. At approximately 09:00, Israeli gunboats chased the boat and opened fire at us. An Israeli gunboat approached the boat, ordered us to take off our clothes, and pumped wastewater at us, noting that we were sailing within the allowed fishing area (less than 3 nautical miles). As a result, I sustained rubber bullet wounds and bruises while the boat’s engine sustained damage and stopped working. The chasing and shooting continued for 3 hours before the fishermen were able to help us and take us to seaport.”

PCHR condemns the continued Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza sea, and calls upon the international community, including the State Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to force Israeli authorities to cease attacks and persecution of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza waters, and to allow fishermen to fish freely. Additionally, PCHR calls upon Israeli authorities to compensate fishermen for their losses caused by the continued Israeli attacks.