Israeli Naval forces continued to carry out attacks on Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip during the reporting period[1] (01-30 April 2015), including 15 shooting incidents and a shelling incident that resulted in wounding a Palestinian fisherman while sailing off Beit Lahia shore in addition to the damaging of a fishing boat and fishing nets.

The Israeli naval forces have 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 six 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 was reduced to four nautical miles and warned Palestinian fishermen from approaching this area along the Gaza Sea.  The Fishermen Syndicate in the Gaza Strip declared suspension of fishing in Gaza waters for three 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 15 shooting incidents and a shelling incident 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 follows: 9 shooting incidents off Beit Lahia shore, north of the Gaza Strip; 3 shooting incident off Khan Yunis shore and 3 shooting incidents off Rafah shore. As a result, a fisherman was wounded and a fishing boat and fishing nets were damaged as detailed in the following paragraphs.  

Second: Israeli Naval Forces Wound Fisherman

– At approximately 16:00 on 08 April 2015, Israeli gunboats chased fishing boats sailing within off Beit Lahia shore in the north of the Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers opened fire at a fishing boat, wounding a fisherman, Khaled Mohammed Mohammed Zayed (27), from al-Salateen area in Beit Lahia village, with 2 bullet to the legs. Zayed was taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital to receive medical treatment. His wounds were minor.

Third: Damaging Fishing Equipment

– At approximately 07:00 on 18 April 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off Khan Yunis shore opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  As a result, a number of fishing nets belonging to fisherman Atef Monther Sehweil were damaged.

– At approximately 08:00 on 19 April 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off Beit Lahia shore in the north of the Gaza Strip, chased and opened fire at fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles. As a result, a fishing boat was hit by a number of bullets.

Israeli Navy Forces Return 15 fishing Boats That
Were in Custody

– On 30 April 2015, Israeli forces returned 15 fishing boats out of 75 ones that were confiscated during Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen in the last 2 years. That policy increased the suffering of hundreds of fishermen, who lost their property and only source of living, since the Israeli naval blockade was tightened in mid-2007.

Nizar Ayyash, Director the Palestinian Fishermen Syndicate, said to a PCHR fieldworker that repeated Israeli attacks on fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea were carried out within the allowed area. Ayyash added that Israeli navy forces have kept in custody 60 fishing boats belonging to dozens of fishermen and other fishing equipment on boats of the those boats, including generators, engines and other tools. He pointed out that this is the first time that Israeli forces return confiscated fishing boats with their engines and the majority of the boats need maintenance, which will add more financial burden on their owners. 

Table of Israeli Attacks on
Palestinian Fishermen in the Gaza Strip in April 2015

Table of Israeli Attacks on
Palestinian Fishermen in the Gaza Strip Since the Beginning of 2015