October 27, 2022
Israeli Occupation Forces Arrest 5 Fishermen and Confiscate their Boat off Beit Lahia Shore
Israeli Occupation Forces Arrest 5 Fishermen and Confiscate their Boat off Beit Lahia Shore

 

 

Ref: 139/2022

Date: 27 October 2022

Time: 08:09 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 5 fishermen and confiscation of their boat off western Beit Lahia shore.

 

According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 23:30, on Wednesday, 26 October, 2022, IOF stationed in the Sea off Al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, arrested 5 fishermen namely Ahmed Mohammed Mahmoud al-Hessi (40), his 2 brothers, ‘Abdel Malek (26) and Mahmoud (25), Mohannad Mohammed Murad al-Hessi (19) and Fares Murad Rajab al-Hessi (43); all of them are residents of Gaza City. IOF surrounded their boat belonging to Murad Rajab al-Hessi with registration plate no. 47 and sailing around 1.5 nautical miles offshore.  The five fishermen were taken to Ashdod Seaport while their boat was confiscated, noting that the fishermen are so far under arrest.

 

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 19 fishermen and arrest of 44 others, including 6 children; 2 of them are still under arrest. Also, the Israeli authorities continue to keep 18 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.