Six Fishermen Arrested and Two Boats Confiscated off Rafah Shore
Ref: 148/2022
Date: 29 November 2022
Time: 12:00 GMT
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) ongoing violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea; the latest was arrest of 6 fishermen and confiscation of their two fishing boats off western Rafah Seaport on Sunday evening.
According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 23:00, on Sunday, 27 November 2022, IOF arrested 6 fishermen on board of 2 fishing boats off Rafah shore in the southern Gaza strip and then confiscated the two boats, taking the fishermen to Ashdod Seaport. The fishermen were identified as: Taysir Yehia ‘Othman Baker (32), Mahmoud Yehia ‘Othman Baker (35), Jawad Yousif ‘Atiyah Abu Ghanim (53), Ahmed Salah Murad Meqdad (34), Mahmoud Yousif ‘Atiyah Abu Ghanem (37) and Rami ‘Ezzat Sa’id Baker (44), and all of them are residents of Gaza City.
In a separate incident last Thursday, 24 November 2022, Israeli gunboats heavily opened fire at fishing boats sailing between one and a half nautical mile and 3 nautical miles. As a result, a fisherman namely Mubarak Naser Fadel Baker (22), from Gaza City, sustained a rubber bullet injury in the right leg while fishing at sea.
It should be noted that the Israeli occupation restricts Palestinian fishermen’s work and limited the fishing zone allowed for them between 6 to 12 nautical miles off western Gaza Strip shore. So far in 2022, PCHR has documented injury of 21 fishermen and arrest of 61 others, including 8 children; 3 of them are still under arrest. Also, the Israeli authorities continue to keep 23 fishing boats in custody in addition to dozens of fishing equipment.
In light of the above, PCHR emphasizes that the Israeli practices against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip constitute a grave breach of all international conventions and instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Also, the Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen contradict the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and stipulates the need to protect workers and guarantee their integrity.
PCHR reiterates its call on the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to compel the Israeli occupation authorities to cease attacks and pursuit of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza waters, as well as allowing fishermen to fish freely and compensating all fishermen for their losses incurred by the continued Israeli attacks and releasing the fishing boats and equipment.