Fact
Sheet

The
Fishing Sector

There are
approximately 8,200 fishermen and workers in the fishing sector in the Gaza
Strip. These fishermen and workers provide for approximately 50,000
dependents. They are distributed among the different areas of the Gaza
Strip as follows: 200 fishermen in the northern Gaza Strip; 1,900 in Gaza City;
500 in the central Gaza Strip; 700 in Khan Yunis; and 400 in Rafah. 

There are also 2,000
traders and others who work in the fishing sector irregularly. The number of
workers in occupations associated with fishing is approximately
2,500. These workers are employed in professions associated with the
fishing sector. They manufacture and maintain fishing boats, prepare fishing
nets, manufacture ice needed to preserve fish, or clean and sell fish.

This increase
in the number of fishermen and workers in the fishing sector is reflected in
the amount of fishing equipment owned by Gaza’s fishermen. The total
number of fishing boats has increased to 1,249 boats across the different areas
of the Gaza Strip.[1]

Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen

The Israeli
occupation forces (IOF) have continued to implement attacks against Palestinian
fishermen, including against their right to carry out their work by going out
to see. IOF have restricted the freedom of movement enjoyed by Palestinian
fishermen in the sea off the coast of the Gaza Strip, depriving them from free
and safe access to the zone rich in fish for the third consecutive year. IOF
have continued to prevent fishermen from sailing beyond 3 nautical miles off
Gaza’s shore. Since the beginning of 2008, IOF have reduced the nautical space
in which Gaza fishermen are allowed to fish. At first, IOF restricted this
space to 6 nautical miles and later to 3 nautical miles. It should be noted
that in accordance with peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinian
Authority, Palestinian fishing boats are permitted to move 20 nautical miles
from the coastline.

Between 01
August 2010 and 31 January 2011, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
documented eleven violations committed by IOF against Palestinian fishermen.
PCHR documented six incidents in which IOF fired at fishermen, including an
incident in which a fisherman was killed at sea while fishing, and 5 incidents
in which IOF fired at fishermen, wounding two fishermen. PCHR also documented 3
incidents in which IOF chased Palestinian fishermen at sea. In these incidents,
IOF arrested 14 fishermen. In addition, PCHR documented 2 incidents in
which IOF confiscated fishing equipment.

· Violation of the Right to Life

Israeli attacks
against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip constitute a flagrant violation
of the rules of the International Humanitarian Law, including the Fourth Geneva
Convention of 1949 relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of
war. Systematic Israeli attacks also constitute a violation of the rules of the
International Human Rights Law, especially Palestinian fishermen’s right to
life and security of person in accordance with the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which the State
of Israel is a party. The Israeli military committed violations against
Palestinian fishermen at sea when these fishermen did not impose any risks on
the members of the Israeli naval forces. These fishermen were exercising their
right to work and they were looking for their living within the territorial
waters of the Gaza Strip when they were indiscriminately fired at by IOF.

As a part of
their policy aimed at targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, IOF
implemented six attacks against Palestinian fishermen while in the sea off the
Gaza Strip. A Palestinian fisherman was killed and another two fishermen were
wounded in these attacks as detailed below:

First: Palestinian Fisherman Killed
While Fishing at Sea

On 24 September 2010, attacks from IOF gunboats killed Mohammed
Mansour Bakr, 20, from northern the Gaza Strip, while fishing off the shore of
al-Soudaneya area in the northern Gaza Strip. Bakr was with four of his cousins
on a fishing boat when an IOF gunboat suddenly fired randomly at them from a
100-meter distance. IOF did not give any prior warning and Bakr was wounded by
a bullet to his right side. IOF continued firing at the fishing boat for more
than 10 minutes. Bakr was transferred later to Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit
Lahia, but died of his wounds.

Rami Sami Bakr, 32, from Gaza governorate, stated the following:

“At 09:30 on Friday, I went fishing with my cousin Mohammed
Mansour Bakr and three of my brothers off the shore of al-Soudaneya area in
northern the Gaza Strip. We were approximately 2,000 meters off the shore and
approximately 2,000 meters far from the Israeli nautical boarders when an
Israeli gunboat stopped approximately 100 meters from us. Suddenly, the
soldiers intensively fired at us with no justification. They did not give any
prior warning. My cousin Mohammed screamed and fell inside the boat. He was
bleeding as he was wounded by a bullet in his right side. We started shouting
at the soldiers asking them to stop firing. We were extremely frightened but
they continued firing for 10 minutes. They then withdrew. We transferred
Mohammed to the shore and then to Kamal Odwan Hospital, but he had died.”

Second: Two Palestinian Fishermen
Wounded at Sea

IOF gunboats deployed at sea have continued to violate Palestinian
fishermen’s rights to life and to safety and security of person while fishing
at sea. PCHR documented five incidents in which IOF fired at Palestinian
fishermen at sea off the Gaza shore during the reporting period. Two fishermen
were wounded in these incidents as detailed below:

– At approximately 12:30 on 27 November 2010, IOF positioned in
observation towers near the coastline in the northwest of Beit Lahia, in the
northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of fishermen who were fishing off
al-Ghoul farms, approximately 350 meters from the border. Ahmed Mahmoud
Mohammed Jarbou, 26, from al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City, was
wounded by a bullet to his arm as a result. A number of fishermen carried
Jarbou to the main street. Ten minutes later, an ambulance from the Palestinian
Red Crescent Society arrived and transferred Jarbou to Kamal Odwan Hospital in
Beit Lahia for treatment. His wounds were described as moderate.

– On 25 December 2010, IOF positioned in military towers near the
northwestern borders opened fire at Palestinian fishermen who were fishing off
Beit Lahia’s shore. Ahmed Mohammed Mohammed Zayed, 25, from Beit Lahia, was
wounded by a bullet in the right foot. Zayed was transferred to Kamal Odwan
Hospital in Beit Lahia for treatment. His wounds were described as moderate.

· Arresting Fishermen and Confiscating Fishing Tools

During the
reporting period, PCHR documented five incidents in which IOF arrested
Palestinian fishermen and destroyed fishing tools. IOF arrested 14 fishermen
and confiscated two fishing boats in two different incidents.

– On 28 December
2010, Israeli naval forces on gunboats arrested six Palestinian fishermen off
al-Soudaneya’s shore, in the northern Gaza Strip. They brought the fishermen to
Ashdod Port where the fishermen were questioned. IOF also confiscated the
fishing boat used by the Palestinian fishermen. The fishing boat which is
registered under the number 82 and which is 18 meter long and 5 meter wide is
owned by Abdul Salam Subhi al-Hessi and his brother Mohammed Subhi al-Hessi.
The following day, the six Palestinian fishermen were released and permitted to
return to Gaza via Erez crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip.

– On 04 January
2011, gunboats belonging to the Israeli naval forces stopped a Palestinian
fishing boat and fired at the fishermen on the boat which was sailing
approximately four kilometers from the shore of al-Sheikh Ajlin, southern Gaza
City. Then the Israeli Naval forces arrested four Palestinian fishermen who
were on the targeted boat. The Israeli naval forces drove the arrested
fishermen and their boat which holds number 112 and which is owned by Mohammed
Abdul Qader Baker to Ashdod Port. The fishermen were released at approximately
20:00 o’clock on the same day.

– On 11 January
2011, IOF arrested four Palestinian fishermen, including two children, who were
fishing at sea off the shore of al-Sheikh Ajlin, southern Gaza city. The
fishermen where approximately 2.5 nautical miles far from the shore when they
were arrested.

Table
I: Israeli Violations Committed Against Palestinian Fishermen During the
Reporting Period