Monday, January 30, 2012

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats off North Gaza Coast

Al Mezan

30-1-2012

At approximately 9:00 pm on Monday 30 January 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats which were in the waters off the coast north of Al Waha resort, in the As-Sudaniya area, west of Beit Lahiya in North Gaza district.  No casualties or injuries were reported.


Thursday, January 12, 2012

PCHR weekly report 5/1 - 11/1/2012

extract from PCHR weekly report 5/1 - 11/1/2012

Saturday, 07 January 2012






At approximately 10:00, Israeli naval forces arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen who were fishing opposite to the Egyptian coasts: Rani Sami Bakr, 29; Tal’at ‘Othman Bakr, 46; Jad ‘Othman Bakr, 35; and Mahmoud Yahia Bakr, 26.  They took the fishermen to Ashdod Harbor inside Israel, but released them at approximately 00:30 on Sunday, 08 January 2012, after interrogating them.  They also seized the fishing boat, which belongs to Jad ‘Othman Bakr.  

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Israel releases 4 Gaza fishermen 'detained at sea'

 
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces released four Palestinian fishermen early Sunday, after they were detained off the coast of the Gaza Strip a day earlier.

Israeli forces fired at their fishing boat off Rafah shores in southern Gaza, and forced the men to swim to an Israeli gunboat on Saturday morning, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported.

The men were released to Gaza at 3.30 a.m. on Sunday, but Israel kept their boat and fishing equipment in custody, president of the Palestinian association for fishing and marine sports Mahfouth al-Kbarity told Ma'an.

The Israeli army said in a statement that the boat had "entered waters that are off-limits for fishing within the Gaza Strip," and didn't respond to instructions to change course.

The vessel was taken to Israel's Ashdod port north of Gaza "where the individuals aboard underwent security inspection," the statement added.

Under Israel's maritime blockade, Palestinian fishers are forbidden from fishing more than three nautical miles from the coast.

During the Oslo accords negotiators had agreed on 20 nautical miles of fishing access along Gaza's coastline.

Noting that most Gaza residents were dependent on food aid, the International Red Cross said in July that Gaza's fishing industry had almost disappeared due to Israeli restrictions.

In early December, the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said Israel has detained 40 fishermen, injured five others and seized nine boats since the start of 2011.

In one Week, IOF Arrests 7 Fishermen, PCHR Condemns the Continued Israeli Violations Against Palestinian Fishermen in the Gaza Strip

PCHR

Sunday, 08 January 2012 14:00

Ref: 01/2012

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the continued Israeli violations against the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip and is strongly concerned over the escalation of such violations.  The violations resulted in the arrest of seven fishermen in two separate incidents, confiscation of two fishing boats, subjecting the fishermen to questioning and cruel and degrading treatment in addition to preventing them from sailing and fishing freely.


According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 07 January 2012, the Israeli Navy Forces arrested four fishermen off the Rafah shore while they were practicing their work.  The Israeli soldiers fired at the fishing boat and forced the fishermen to stop, take their clothes off and swim towards the Israeli gunboat while the weather was very cold.  The Israeli soldiers took the four fishermen to Ashdod seaport to be questioned, after the were blindfolded and handcuffed.  At approximately 00:30 on Sunday, 08 January 2012, the fishermen were released and taken to Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  The four fishermen are: 1) Rani Sami Baker, 29; 2) Tal'at Othman Baker, 46; 3) Jad Othman Baker, 35; and 4) Mahmoud Yahya Baker, 26, all from Gaza City.

At approximately 13:47 on Thursday, 29 December 2011, the Israeli Navy Forces intercepted a fishing boat with three fishermen on board, including two brothers, who were fishing off the Khan Yunis shore.  The Israeli soldiers arrested the three fishermen after they ordered them to take their clothes off, jump into the water and swim towards the Israeli gunboat. The fishermen were handcuffed and blindfolded with bags over their heads, while their boat was confiscated by the Israeli Navy Forces.  The fishermen are: 1) Nabeel Ahmed al-Henawwi, 34; 2) Mahmoud Ahmed al-Henawwi, 43; and 3) Monther Mosa Sehweil, 38, all from Khan Yunis.

In his testimony to PCHR, Nabeel Ahmed Mahmoud al-Henawwi, 34, from Khan Yunis, said that he and the two other fishermen had stayed naked for 20 minutes in the water.  They were shivering because of the extreme cold.  He added that the Israeli Navy Forces transported them to the Israeli shores and subjected them to questioning while they were handcuffed and blindfolded.  The two al-Henawwi brothers were released, but the third fisherman was transferred to Ashkelon prison.

It should be noted that the Israeli Navy has imposed restrictions on fishermen at sea, including denying them the right to sail and fish since 2000. The Israeli Navy also minimized the area allowed for fishing in Gaza waters from 20 to 6 nautical miles in 2008; however, the Israeli naval troops keep preventing Palestinian fishermen from going beyond three nautical miles in Gaza waters since 2009, and sometimes chase them in this area as well. As a result, Palestinian fishermen are denied access to areas beyond the three miles, due to which they have lost 85% of their subsistence.

In light of the above, PCHR condemns the recurrence of such attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, and believes that they are part of the escalation of collective punishment against civilians.  Besides, they have been carried out in the context of attacking civilians in their livelihood, which is prohibited under the international humanitarian law and international human rights law.  PCHR calls upon the Israeli Navy to:

1. Immediately stop the policy of chasing and arresting Palestinian fishermen and to allow them to sail and fish freely;
2. Calls for reparations to the victims for the physical and material damages caused to fishermen and their property; and
3. Immediately return the confiscated fishing boats to their owners and to compensate them for the material damage and psychological effects.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

IOF Arrests Four Fishermen in Rafah

Al Mezan

7-1-2012

At approximately 5:30 am on Saturday 7 January 2012, an Israeli gunboat stopped a Palestinian fishing boat about four nautical miles opposite the buoys between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.  The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested four fishermen who were on board and confiscated the boat.  Al Mezan has identified the persons detained as follows:

·         Jad Othman Fares Baker, 36;
·         His brother Tala’t Othman Fares Baker, 47;
·         Mahmoud (Hesham) Yihya Othman Baker, 25; and
·         Rani Sami Omar Baker, 31.

All of them are from Gaza district.  The IOF took them to an Israeli site where they were detained and interrogated.  At approximately 11:30 pm on the same day, the IOF released them at Erez crossing.  The IOF confiscated the boat, fishing nets, and equipment.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

PCHR weekly report 29/12/11 - 4/1/12: 3 fishermen abducted, 1 boat stolen, another attack in Beit Lahia

extract from PCHR weekly report 29/12/11 - 4/1/12

Thursday, 29 December 2011 

At approximately 07:30, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no casualties were reported.

At approximately 09:30, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no casualties were reported.
At approximately 13:45, an Israeli gunboat chased a small fishing boat on board of which were 3 Palestinian fishermen nearly 3 nautical miles off Khan Yunis seashore in the southern Gaza Strip.  Israeli naval troops opened fire at the boat and ordered the fishermen to stop it.  They then ordered the fishermen to take their upper clothes off, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat.  Israeli naval troops handcuffed and blindfolded the fishermen.  The fishermen were taken to an Israeli military post, where they were interrogated.  Two of the fishermen were released at approximately 00:30 on Friday, 30 December 2011, while the third one remained in custody.  The fishermen are:

1. Nabeel Ahmed al-Hinnawi, 34;
2. Mahmoud Ahmed al-Hinnawi, 43; and
3. Munther Mousa Sahwil, 38, who remained in custody.
Tuesday, 03 January 2012

At approximately 06:00, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no casualties were reported.



Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Israeli gunboats 'fire at fishermen'


Palestinians stand at Gaza City's fishing port. (MaanImages/Wissam Nassar)

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli gunboats on Wednesday opened fire at fishermen off the coast of southern Gaza, witnesses said.

No injuries were reported.

An Israel army spokeswoman was not familiar with the incident.

[...]

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishing Boats in North Gaza District

Al Mezan

At approximately 6:00 am on Tuesday 3 January 2010 (sic - means 2012), Israeli gunboats patrolling the Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast northwest of Al Waha resort, in the As-Sudaniya area, in the west of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district.  No casualties or injuries were reported.