Fact Sheet

Israeli Attacks on Fishermen in the Gaza Sea

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 12 attacks launched by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against Palestinian fishermen during the reporting period (01– 30 September 2012),[1] including incidents in which the IOF fired at fishermen and fishing boats, as a result of which a fisherman was killed and his brother was wounded while they were fishing near the shore of Beit Lahia town in the north of the Gaza Strip.  In addition, 3 fishing boats belonging to Palestinian fishermen were partially damaged, along with their fishing equipment.

Violation of the Right to Life and Security of Person

Israel’s attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, especially the right to life and security of the person, in accordance with Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the State of Israel is a party.  IOF perpetrated violations against Palestinian fishermen in the sea, when these fishermen did not pose any threat to Israeli naval troops.  The fishermen were practicing their right to work and seeking their livelihood within the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip when the IOF attacked them.

First: Fisherman Killed and Brother Wounded While Fishing in Gaza Water

At Approximately 09:30 Sunday, 28 September 2012, an Israeli infantry unit stormed the northwest border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, and advanced nearly 20 meters within the boundaries of the Strip's coastal borders northwest of Beit Lahia, and fired at the fishermen present there. As a result, a fisherman, Fahmi Saleh Fahmi Abu Riash (22), from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left thigh and another bullet to the left buttock that settled in the pelvis, causing an acute hemorrhage in the lower part of the abdomen, for which he was transported to Kamal Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. At approximately 15:30 on the same day, Fahmi Abu Riash was taken to the operation room, where he underwent a two-hour surgery. He was then taken to the intensive care unit, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 22:30.[2]

In the same incident, another fisherman, Yousef Saleh Fahmi Abu Riash (19), was also transported to Kamal Edwan Hospital in Beith Lahia after being wounded by bullet shrapnel to the left hand.[3]

Second: Damage of Fishing Equipment

· At approximately 09:00 on 28 September 2012, Israeli gunboats stationed off Al-Waha resort, north of Beit Lahia, opened fire intensively at 8 Palestinian fishing boats. As a result, the Palestinian fishermen were terrorized, fled in fear of being subject to arrest or injury, leaving their fishing nets behind and the Israeli gunboats damaged them.

· At approximately 09:00 on 22 September 2012, Israeli gunboats stationed off Gaza Sea Port, west of Gaza, opened fire intensively at fishing boats present at the port, which resulted in damaging a fishing boat belonging to fisherman Nasser Mohammad Abu-Omaira (45), from the Beach Camp in Gaza.

· At approximately 16:00 Saturday, 22 September 2012, Israeli gunboats stationed off Gaza Sea Port attacked two fishing boats and tried to drown them, which resulted in damaging the front of the first boat and its engine. The damage caused to the second boat was partial, inflicted on the power generator and two torches installed on its roof.

Table of Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in Gaza City

(01 July – 31 August 2012)