June 9 , 2013

Ref: 60/2013

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the Israeli forces’ attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip and expresses deep concern over the rise in such attacks. In the latest attack, Israeli forces arrested 2 fishermen and held their boat while they were fishing approximately 6 nautical miles off the seashore.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:00 on Friday, 7 June 2013, 3 Israeli gunboats approached a Palestinian fishing boat boarding 2 fishermen, sailing nearly 6 nautical miles off Gaza Valley in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers fired at the boat and then forced the two fishermen to take their clothes off, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat. They arrested the two fishermen and confiscated their boat. The fishermen were identified as Hassan Ali Murad (27), and Khader Marwan al-Se'ydy (25), both from Gaza city. They were released at 18:00 the same evening.

Hassan Ali Murad (27) stated to PCHR:


"At approximately 02:00, I was sailing together with Khader Marwan al-Se'ydy (25) opposite to the Gaza Valley area, approximately 6 nautical miles off the shore. Suddenly, 3 Israeli gunboats approached us and started chasing the fishing boats in the area. Our boat engine broke down; thus, we could not escape and Israeli soldiers started firing at us, ordered us to take off our clothes and jump into the water. Israeli soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded us and transferred us to the gunboat. They also confiscated the fishing boat, which is the property of Marwan Awad al-Se'ydy. We were later transferred to Ashdod Harbor. An officer interrogated us and accused us of exceeding the allowed fishing area even though we did not. The interrogation continued for approximately 15 minutes. At approximately 18:00, a soldier handcuffed us with metal chains, forced us to carry the fishing equipment we had with us, and walk towards the bus that would carry us to Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing."

In another incident, at approximately 20:30 on Saturday, 8 June 2013, an Israeli gunboat opened fire at two Palestinian fishing boats with 5 fishermen onboard, approximately 3 nautical miles off the Waha area seashore in the north of the Gaza Strip. The soldiers opened fire in the vicinity of the fishing boats, cutting off 3 floats; as a result, 8 pieces of the fishing nets that belonged to Taha Mohammed Sa'd-Allah (30), from Jabalia, and Mustafa al-Sultan (55), from Gaza city, were lost.

It should be noted that the two attacks took place within the 6-nautical-mile limit for fishing and sailing imposed by Israeli forces for fishing in Gaza seawaters.

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

1. Calls for Palestinian fishermen to be allowed to sail and fish freely and an immediate end to the Israeli policy of chase and arrest while at sea;

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 intervene immediately to stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian fishermen, and to allow them to sail and fish freely in the Gaza sea.