Israeli Naval forces continued to carry out attacks on Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip during the reporting period[1] (01 February-31 March 2015), including 27 shooting incidents that resulted in the murder of a Palestinian fisherman and injury of 2 fishermen and damaging a fishing boat.  PCHR also documented the arrest of 6 fishermen, and confiscation of 3 fishing boats belonging to Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli naval forces did not comply with the ceasefire agreement concluded between Israel and Palestinian armed groups under Egyptian auspices on 26 August 2014.  This agreement includes allowing Palestinian fishermen to sail within 6 nautical miles in the Gaza Sea.  According to PCHR’s investigations, all attacks took place 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 livelihoods.

In a serious development, on 07 March 2015, the Israeli naval forces declared via loud speakers that the allowed fishing area reduced to 4 nautical miles and warned Palestinian fishermen from approaching this area along the Gaza Sea.  The Fishermen Syndicate in the Gaza Strip
declared banning fishing in Gaza waters for 3 days in protest against the Israeli Naval forces’ decision.

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: Shooting Incidents

During the reporting period, PCHR documented 27 cases (15 shooting incidents in February and 12 shooting incidents in March) in which Israeli forces fired at Palestinian fishermen in the sea off the Gaza Strip shore.  The shooting incidents took place within the allowed fishing area.  As a result, a fisherman was killed and other fishermen were wounded in addition to the damage of a fishing boat.

Second: Israeli Naval Forces Killed Fisherman
while Sailing off Gaza City Shore

– At approximately 01:15 on Saturday, 07 March 2015, Israeli gunboats chased three fishing boats sailing within 1.5 nautical miles off Gaza seaport. Fishermen said that Israeli navy forces opened fire in the air and at fishermen, who tried to sail back and flee. As a result, a fisherman, Tawfiq Sa’id Abu Reyala (32) sustained a bullet wound to the abdomen and his boat broke down. Other fishermen transported him to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to receive medical treatment. He was admitted to the hospital at 02:30. Medical sources stated that Abu Reyala sustained a bullet wound to the abdomen and the bullet exited from the back, due to which he suffered severe hemorrhage that caused his death at approximately 12:30.

A fisherman added that a group of fishermen headed amidst fire on board another boat belonging to Abu Reyala too to rescue him after he was wounded. However, they were fired at by Israeli forces, due to which they fled and left the boat behind. Israeli forces confiscated the two boats and arrested two fishermen.

Second: Two Fishermen Wounded in Shooting
Incidents

– At approximately 07:30 on Thursday, 05 March 2015, Israeli gunboats chased about 30 Palestinian fishing boats sailing within two nautical miles off al-Mathaf Hotel in al-Sudaniya area, northwest of Gaza City. Two gunboats and two inflatable boats of the Israeli navy approached and started firing at the Palestinian fishing boats. As a result, Zeyad Fahed Zeyad Baker (21) sustained a bullet wound to the buttock and another bullet wound to the right leg, and Eid Mohsen Eid Baker (25) sustained a bullet wound to the left leg. A third fisherman was on board of the boat.

Fisherman Fahed Zeyad Hassan Baker (40) said to a PCHR fieldworker that he was with the company of 4 fishermen on board a fishing boat when Israeli gunboats approached and started opening fire. As a result, Eid Baker, who was on the boat, was wounded. He added that he saw his son Zeyad Baker when he was wounded on board another nearby boat. Baker said that dozens of fishermen in the sea were frightened and were forced to jump into the water to avoid fire. The fishermen were able to rescue the wounded ones and take them from the sea to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for medical treatment. The two wounded fishermen received medical treatment and went home.

Third: Arrest of Fishermen:

PCHR documented incidents in which Israeli naval forces arrested and chased 6 fishermen, including 2 children, while they were sailing within about 2 nautical miles off northern Gaza and Gaza City shore.

– On 05 March 2015, Israeli gunboats chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within two nautical miles off al-Mathaf Hotel in al-Sudaniya area, northwest of Gaza City. Two gunboats and two inflatable boats of the Israeli navy approached and started firing at the Palestinian fishing boats. As a result, two fishermen were wounded.  The Israeli gunboats then chased a fishing boat a fishing boat belonging to a fisherman from the Zaidan family and arrested four fishermen on the boat board. They then transported the fishing boat to Ashdod port. The four fishermen, who were later released on the same day, were identified as: Mahmoud Hassan Zaidan (54); Rami Mahmoud Zaidan (37); Mohammed Rasem Hassouna (22); and Mohammed Nabil al-Najjar (28).

– On 07 March 2015, Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing boat sailing within 1 nautical mile off Gaza City shore.  The boat was boarded by Wahid (24) and Jihad al-Sayed Ahmed Kaskin (20).  The Israeli navy soldiers forced the two brothers to jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat.  They arrested the two brothers and confiscated the two boats taking them to Ashdod.  At noon, the two brothers were released via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip after questioning them.

Forth: Confiscation of Fishing Boats

During the reporting period, PCHR documented chasing incidents and confiscation of a fishing boat and other fishing equipment (pieces of fishing net).

– On 05 March 2015, the Israeli gunboats then chased a fishing boat a fishing boat belonging to a fisherman from the Zaidan family and arrested four fishermen on the boat board. They then transported the fishing boat to Ashdod port. The four fishermen were later released on the same day.

– 07 March 2015, Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing boat sailing within 1 nautical mile off Gaza City shore.  The boat was boarded by two
fishermen, who were arrested and whose boat was confiscated.  Israeli navy forces confiscated another boat boarded by Abu Riyalah, who was killed as mentioned in the second paragraph of this report.

Forth: Damaging Fishing Equipment

– On 07 March 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off Gaza City shore opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  As a result, a fishing boat belonging to Kaskin family was damaged.

Table of Israeli Attacks on
Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza City since the beginning of 2015