February 12, 2018
Israeli Naval Forces Continue to Chase Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza Sea, Two Fishermen Wounded and arrested off Northern Gaza Strip Shore
Israeli Naval Forces Continue to Chase Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza Sea, Two Fishermen Wounded and arrested off Northern Gaza Strip Shore

Ref: 19/2018 

 

On Sunday, 11 February 2018, Israeli gunboats chased Palestinian fishing boats and opened fire at them, targeting and wounded two fishermen.  As a result, both were wounded and then arrested by the Naval Forces.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 06:30 on Sunday, 11 February 2018, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of al-Wahah Resort in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 1 nautical mile and then surrounded a fishing boat manned by Tariq ‘Abdel Bari Mohammed al-Sultan (22) and ‘Aaed Nizar Mohammed al-Sultan (22), both from al-Salatin neighborhood in Beit Lahia.  The Israeli soldiers ordered them to take off their clothes, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat.  They were taken to Ashdod Seaport and interrogated to be released at approximately 20:00 on the same day.

It turns out that both fishermen were hit with rubber bullets by the Israeli naval soldiers as Tariq al-Sultan was hit with 2 bullets to both legs while ‘Aaed was hit with 4 rubber bullets to both legs and abdomen.

In light of the above, PCHR strongly condemns the Israeli ongoing attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip and:

  1. Calls for immediately ending Israeli violations against fishermen and allowing them to sail and fish freely in the Gaza Sea;
  2. Calls for compensating the victims of Israeli violations for the bodily and material harm caused to them.
  3. Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, to intervene to stop all Israeli violations against fishermen and allow them to fish freely in the Gaza Sea.