Ref: 04/2014
Date: 21 January 2014
Time: 13:00 GMT

Israeli navy forces positioned off Beit Lahia shore, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats while sailing within the 2 nautical mile zone. They also arrested 2 fishermen and confiscated their fishing equipment including boat and nets. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen. The attacks violate the fishermen’s right to livelihood and obstruct them from sailing freely. Their livelihood is already under serious threat as a result of the illegal naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:00am on Monday, 20 January 2014, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats while sailing just 2 nautical miles off Beit Lahia shore, in the northern Gaza Strip. An Israeli gunboat surrounded a fishing boat boarded by 2 fishermen, including one child: Yusef Amin Abu Warda (18) and Ahmed Kamal Abu Warda (17), both from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli officers ordered the fishermen to take their clothes off, jump in the water and sail towards the Israeli gunboat. The fishermen did so and were taken by the gunboat to Ashdod seaport. At approximately 23:00 on the same day, the 2 fishermen were released, but their boat and nets remained in Israeli custody. Yusef stated to PCHR’s fieldworker that Ahmed and himself were questioned for an hour and a half and were accused of sailing beyond the allowed area.

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

1. Calls for an immediate halt of the policy of chasing and attacking fishermen and to allow them sail and fish freely;
2. Calls for reimbursing the victims of the Israeli violations for the material damage they sustained; and
3. Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to intervene and stop the Israeli violations against fishermen.