Factsheet

Israeli Naval forces continued
to carry out attacks on Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip during the
reporting period[1] (01-30 November
2013), including 12 shooting incidents resulting in the injury of 1 fisherman
and causing damage to fishing equipment, and 3 chasing incidents that led to
the arrest of 6 fishermen and confiscation of 3 fishing boats and other
equipment.

The issuance of this factsheet
coincides with the aggravation of Palestinian fishermen’s suffering in the Gaza
Strip due to the ongoing Israeli naval blockade and preventing fishermen from
fishing freely as well as the severe lack of fuel supplies needed to run the
fishing boats and equipment.  According to
PCHR’s follow-up, hundreds of Palestinian boats have broken down and more than
4000 fishermen have suffered due to being denied access to the fuel needed for
their work.  This has led to serious deterioration
in living conditions of a population of more than 75,000 that depends on the
fishing sector as a main livelihood.[2]

Although Israeli authorities
limited the fishing distance in Gaza Sea to 6 nautical miles, they neither
complied with that distance nor allowed Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip
to sail and fish freely, and continued their attacks against them.  PCHR documented all attacks carried out
within the distance of 6 nautical miles, which proves that Israeli forces’
policies aim to tighten restrictions on the Gaza Strip’s fishermen and their
sources of livelihood.

Violations of the International
Humanitarian and Human Rights Law

Israel’s attacks against
Palestinian fishermen, who do not pose any threat to Israeli soldiers, in the
Gaza Strip constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and
human rights law, relevant to the protection of the civilian population and respect
for its rights, including every person’s right to work, and the right to life,
liberty and security of person, as codified in Article 3 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), despite the fact that Israel is a State
Party to the Covenant.  Furthermore, these attacks occurred in a time
where the fishers did not pose any threat to the Israeli naval troops, as they
were doing their job to secure a living.  Israeli violations in the
reporting period were as follows:

First: Firing at Fishing Boats
in the Gaza Strip Waters

During the reporting period,
PCHR documented 12 cases in which Israeli forces fired at Palestinian fishermen
in the sea off the Gaza Strip shore. Seven attacks of which took place off Beit
Lahia shore in the northern Gaza Strip; 3 attacks took place off the Rafah
shore in the south of the Gaza Strip; one was off the Gaza City shore in the
south of the Gaza Strip; and the last one was off Khan Younis shore, south of
the Gaza Strip.  It is noted that all
these incidents happened within the 6 nautical miles allowed for fishermen to
sail and fish in, according to the cease fire agreement concluded between
Israel and Palestinian armed groups under Egyptian and international auspices. 

Second: Wounding a Fisherman

On 10 November 2013, Israeli gunboats
stationed off al-Waha Resort shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern
Gaza strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing 3 nautical miles
off the shore. As a result, Mahmoud Saleh Abu Wardah (18) sutained shrapnel
injuries to the right side of his abdomen. 
Two Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing canoe boarded by two fishermen;
Saddam Saleh Abu Wardah (23) and his brother, Mahmoud (18).  Israeli Naval Forces forced the two fishermen
to get on one of the gunboats and arrested them.  They then pulled their fishing canoe and
confiscated it.

Third: Arrest of Fishermen:

PCHR documented incidents in
which Israeli Naval forces arrested and chased 6 fishermen, including 2
children, in 3 separate incidents while they were sailing within 1-3 nautical
miles off Beit Lahia shore in the northern Gaza Strip and Rafah shore in south
of the Gaza Strip.

– On
10 November 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed of al-Wahah Resort shore,
northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire against
Palestinian fishing boats sailing 3 nautical miles of the shore.  As a result, Mahmoud Saleh Abu Wardah (18)
sutained shrapnel injuries to the right side of his abdomen.  Two Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing
canoe boarded by two fishermen; Saddam Saleh Abu Wardah (23) and his brother,
Mahmoud (18).  Israeli Naval Forces
forced the two fishermen to get on one of the gunboats, arrested them and
confiscated their boat.  The two
fishermen were subject to investigation and were accused of exceeding the limit
allowed for fishing.  In the late evening
of the same day, they were released.

– On
17 November 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Resort, northwest of
Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats
sailing 1.5 nautical miles off the shore. 
An Israeli gunboat surrounded a fishing canoe boarded by ‘Ammar As’ad
al-Sultan (21) and Mohsin Akram Zayed (24), both from al-Salatin neighborhood
in Beit Lahia.  Israeli naval forces
forced the two fishermen to jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat.  They were arrested and taken to Ashdod
Seaport, where they were subject to investigation.  At approximately 03:00, they were released
via Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing.

– On
27 November 2013, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats
sailing 1 nautical mile off Rafah port in the west of Rafah City in the
southern Gaza Strip.  Israeli gunboats
surrounded a Palestinian fishing canoe boarded by two fishermen and opened fire
at it.  The two fishermen were arrested
and their canoe was confiscated as well as other fishing equipment, of which a
500-meter fishing net.  The arrested
fishermen were identified as Ahmed Khalil Hasounah (16) and Mahmoud Mohammed
Hassounah (17), both from the Swedish Village, southwest of Rafah.

Fourth: Confiscation of Fishing
Equipment

During the reporting period,
PCHR documented 3 chasing incidents in the Gaza Waters resulting in the
confiscation of 3 fishing boats and other fishing equipment (fishing nets). The
confiscation incidents were as follows:

– On 10 November 2013, Israeli
naval forces confiscated a fishing canoe while sailing at approximately 3
nautical miles off al-Waha Resort shore, west of Beit Lahiah in the northern
Gaza Strip. Israeli naval forces also confiscated fishing nets belonging to
Hatim Saleh Abu Wardah.

On 17 November 2013, Israeli naval
forces confiscated a fishing canoe while sailing at approximately 1.5 nautical
miles off al-Waha Resort shore, west of Beit Lahiah in the northern Gaza Strip.
Israeli naval forces also confiscated ten 1000-meter fishing nets belonging to
‘Ammar As’ad al-Sultan.

On 27 November 2013, Israeli
naval forces confiscated a fishing canoe sailing at approximately 1 nautical
mile off the Rafah port in the west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Fifth: Damaging Fishing
Equipment

– On 09 November 2013, Israeli
naval forces stationed off the Beit Lahiah shore in the northern Gaza Strip
opened fire at Palestinian gunboats sailing at approximately 5 nautical
miles.  As a result, fishing nets
belonging to Hatim Saleh Abu Wardah (40), Mohammed Amin Abu Wardah (21), Fadel
Saleh Abu Wardah (32) and Subhi Mohammed Sa’adallah (62) were damaged.

   Table of Israeli Attacks on Palestinian
Fishermen in Gaza City in November 2013