Ref: 141/2022

Date: 01 November 2022

Time: 10:30 GMT

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) ongoing violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea; the latest was arrest of 4 fishermen and confiscation of two boats off western Gaza shore at dawn on Tuesday.

According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 02:30, on Tuesday, 01 November 2022, IOF stationed in the sea off the Gaza Seaport opened fire at two fishing boats sailing within 6 nautical miles.  They confiscated the two boats and arrested 4 fishermen, including a child namely Zayed Zaki Mustafa Taroush (26), Rajab Khalid Rajl Abu Ryala (36), Mohammad Jamal Khaleel Talaba (24), and ‘Abdulrahman Tawfiq Sa’eed Abu Ryala (17). At around 12:00 on the same day, the Israeli occupation authorities released the four fishermen while they kept the two boats under custody.

IOF had also arrested 5 fishermen on Wednesday afternoon, 26 October 2022, and released 4 of them the following day, while the fifth remained under arrest for treatment.

IOF restrict Palestinian fishermen’s work at the Gaza Strip Sea and only allow them to sail within 6 to 12 nautical miles. So far in 2022, PCHR documented injury of 20 fishermen and arrest of 53 others, including 7 children; 3 of them are still under arrest. Also, the Israeli authorities continue to keep 20 fishing boats in custody in addition to dozens of fishing equipment.

In light of the above, PCHR emphasizes that the Israeli practices against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip constitute a grave breach of all international conventions and instruments, including the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to The Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which both stipulate 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 obligate the Israeli occupation authorities to cease attacks and pursuit of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza waters, as well as allowing fishermen to fish freely and compelling Israel to compensate fishermen for their losses caused by the continued Israeli attacks and release the fishing boats and equipment in their custody.