Ref: 72/2022Date: 08 June 2022Time: 11:00 GMT 
On Wednesday morning,08 June 2022, Israeli Naval Forces arrested two fishermen and confiscated their fishing boat off Gaza Shore.According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 06:30 on Wednesday, 08 June 2022, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Shati camp shore, west of Gaza City, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 5 nautical miles. They also chased and surrounded a fishing boat manned by two fishermen: Mahmoud Sa’eed Fathi al-Sa’idi (19), from al-Shati refugee camp, and Zayid Zaki Mostafa Taroush (20), from Jabalia refugee camp. Both of them were arrested and their boat was confiscated.It is noteworthy that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) restrict work of Palestinian fishermen and allow them to sail only within 6 to 12 nautical miles in the western Gaza Strip. So far in 2022, PCHR documented injury of 10 fishermen and arrest of 39 others, including 6 children; 9 of them are still under arrest. Also, the Israeli authorities continue to keep 11 fishing boats and dozens of fishing equipment in their custody.PCHR condemns the ongoing Israeli attacks against fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea and emphasizes that the Israeli practices against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip constitute a grave violation of all international conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Also, the Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen violate the Fourth Geneva Convention relevant to the protection of civilians in time of occupation and stipulates the need to protect workers and guarantee their integrity.PCHR reiterates its call on the international community, including the States Party to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to force Israeli authorities to cease attacks and persecution of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza waters, and to allow fishermen to fish freely. Moreover, PCHR calls upon Israeli authorities to compensate fishermen for their losses caused by the continued Israeli attacks and release the detained fishing boats and equipment.