Ref: 11/2014
Date: 11 February 2014
Time: 12:00 GMT

Israeli Naval Forces arrested three fishermen and confiscated two Palestinian fishing boats sailing at approximately 1.5 nautical miles off Beit Lahia shore in the northern Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the continued targeting of fishermen and their livelihoods. Economic and social rights of fishermen have been violated by the illegal naval blockade imposed by Israeli authorities on the Gaza waters since June 2007.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 06:30 on Tuesday, 11 February 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off Beit Lahia shore, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of fishing boats sailing within about 1.5 nautical miles. Two Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing boat boarded by Fadel Jamal Ramadan al-Sultan (24). Israeli officers then ordered al-Sultan to jump into the water and swim towards one of the gunboats. They arrested him and confiscated his fishing boat. The Israeli gunboat headed directly towards another fishing boat boarded by two fishermen, Mohammed ‘Abdel Nabi Rajab al-Sleibi (41) and his son Ahmed (17) from al-Shati’ refugee camp in Gaza City. The Israeli officers ordered the two fishermen to jump into the water and to swim towards the gunboat, then confiscated their fishing boat. The three fishermen are so far under arrest.

Since 29 December 2013, Israeli naval forces have started an intensive campaign in the Gaza Sea. They chase Palestinian fishing boats and prevent them from sailing beyond 4.5 nautical miles. Moreover, they chase fishing boats sailing within 1 nautical mile off the northern Gaza shore and within 1 nautical mile off the Egyptian-Palestinian borders and prevent fishermen from approaching those areas. The subsequent period witnessed shooting incidents at the Palestinian fishing boats.

PCHR condemns the continued Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, and:

1. Calls for immediately stopping the policy of chasing and arresting Palestinian fishermen, and allowing them to sail and fish freely;
2. Demands compensation for the fishermen for the physical and material damage caused to them and their property as a result of these violations;
3. Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to immediately intervene to stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian fishermen and to allow them to sail and fish freely in the Gaza Sea.