Ref: 24/2019

Israeli naval forces continue their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen in Gaza water and prevent them from fishing freely.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 07:15 on Wednesday evening, 01 May 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Waha Resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. The gunboats surrounded a fishing boat belonging to Saleh Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Ryalah (48), from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City. The board was manned by Saleh’s son Hazem (28) and Khalid Rajab Abu Ryalah (24). The Israeli soldiers ordered the fishermen to take off their clothes, jump into water and swim towards the gunboats. The fishermen were arrested  and their boat was confiscated. As a result, of shooting, fisherman Mohammed Bashir Sha’ban Abu Ryalah (24), who was sailing in another boat, was hit with a rubber bullet to the back. He received medical treatment at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and doctors classified his injury as minor.

It should be noted that the Israeli forces’ attacks coincided with reducing the fishing area to 6 nautical miles off the Gaza shore, which aggravate fishermen’s suffering and violates their right to work.