Ref: 30/2014
Date: 13 March 2014
Time: 13:00 GMT

On Tuesday 11 March 2014, Israeli Naval Forces arrested two fishermen and confiscated their fishing boat sailing within approximately 3 nautical miles off Gaza City shore. In a separate incident, Israeli Naval Forces opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat resulting in the injury of 2 fishermen and damaging fishing equipment. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the continued targeting of fishermen and their livelihoods. Economic and social rights of fishermen have been violated by the illegal naval blockade imposed by Israeli authorities on the Gaza waters since June 2007.

Sha’aban ‘Adnan Abu Riyalah (33) said to a PCHR fieldworker that

“At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday 11 March 2014, I went with Jihad Bashir Abu Riyalah (24) off al-Sheikh ‘Ejlin shore. At approximately 13:30 two Israeli gunboats surrounded our boat while sailing within 3 nautical miles. Israeli Naval Forces opened fire at us sailing within about 3 nautical miles and then ordered us to jump into the water and swim towards one of the gunboats. We were attacked, blindfolded, and our hands were tightened with plastic wires. They arrested us and took us to Ashdod Seaport where we were interrogated by an Israeli intelligence officer. At approximately 22:30, the Israeli authorities released us through Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing while they kept our boat in custody.”

In a separate incident, according to the testimony of a fisherman to a PCHR fieldworker, at approximately 20:30 on Monday 10 March 2014, two Israeli gunboats chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within about 2.5 nautical miles off al-Sudaniyah area, north of Gaza City. Israeli Naval Forces then opened fire at a fishing boat boarded by 5 fishermen resulting in the injury of 2 fishermen , who sustained a rubber bullet injury to their right thigh and damage of fishing nets.

Since 29 December 2013, Israeli naval forces have started an intensive campaign in the Gaza Sea. They chase Palestinian fishing boats and prevent them from sailing beyond 4.5 nautical miles. Moreover, they chase fishing boats sailing within 1 nautical mile off the northern Gaza shore and within 1 nautical mile off the Egyptian-Palestinian borders and prevent fishermen from approaching those areas. The subsequent period witnessed shooting incidents at the Palestinian fishing boats.

PCHR condemns the continued Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, and:

1. Calls for immediately stopping the policy of chasing and arresting Palestinian fishermen, and allowing them to sail and fish freely;
2. Demands compensation for the fishermen for the physical and material damage caused to them and their property as a result of these violations;
3. Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to immediately intervene to stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian fishermen and to allow them to sail and fish freely in the Gaza Sea.