Ref: 109/2022

Date: 01 September 2022

Time: 11:40 GMT

During the past two days, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have escalated their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.  They chased and opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area in separate incidents.  As a result, 3 boats were confiscated, and another was drowned.

At approximately 15:00 on Wednesday, 31 August 2022, IOF confiscated a fishing boat where Ahmad ‘Adel Mohammad Al-Bardawil (16) was on board sailing within 3 nautical miles off western rafah shore, southern Gaza Strip.  There were also 2 generators and 30 searchlights on the boat.

At approximately 22:30 on Tuesday, 30 August 2022, IOF confiscated 2 fishing boats belonging to Muhannad Ra’fat Radwan Baker (27), and Tayseer Mohammad ‘Abdulnouri (61), who are both residents of al-Shati refugee camp. They were sailing within 3 nautical miles off al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.

In a separate incident, a fisherman namely ‘Omar Mohammad Ism’ail Al-Bardawil (59), from Rafah, said that at approximately 21:00 on Friday, 26 August 2022, IOF’s gunboats stationed off the Fishermen Seaport, western Rafah, pumped water at a fishing boat he owns and drowned it. The boat was sailing within 6 nautical miles and had a generator and searchlights in board. Bardawil added that at dawn on Saturday, 27 August 2022, he managed to pull the boat out after being drowned by the Israeli gunboats while all its contents were damaged.

So far in 2022, PCHR documented the injury of 19 fishermen and the arrest of 44 others, including 6 children; 2 fishermen remain in IOF detention. Also, the Israeli authorities continue to keep 18 fishing boats and dozens of fishing tools and equipment in their custody.

PCHR condemns the Israeli ongoing violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip that constitute a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relevant to the protection of civil persons and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

PCHR reiterates its call upon the international community, including the States Party to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to compel the Israeli authorities to cease their attacks and pursuit of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza waters, and to allow them to fish freely. Additionally, PCHR calls upon Israeli authorities to compensate fishermen for their losses inflicted by the continued Israeli attacks, to release the arrested fishermen and return the confiscated fishing boats and equipment.