Date: 22 May 2016
Time: 11:10 GMT
Israeli forces Continue Collective Punishment Policy against fishermen, Arrest 10 Fishermen and Confiscate 5 Boats
The
Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the
Israeli escalation of attacks against fishermen in the Gaza Sea; the
last of which was against a group of fishing boats in the northern Gaza
Sea. During this attack, Israeli naval forces arrested 10 fishermen and
confiscated 5 fishing boats. PCHR considers these attacks as part of
the collective punishment forms Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip
and target fishermen's livelihoods. PCHR calls upon the International
community to intervene to protect Palestinian fishermen and violations
against them and direct attacks against them and their property.
According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 05:40
on Sunday, 22 May 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Wahah shore,
northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire
at Palestinian fishing boats. Two gunboats then surrounded two fishing
boats sailing within 1 nautical mile. One of these boats belongs to
Ishaq Mohammed Mohammed Zayed (54) who was on its board at that time
along with his two sons, Rasem (29) and Mohammed (19). Meanwhile, the
other fishing boat belongs to Younis Diab Mousa Zayed (53), who was on
its board at that time along with his two sons, Saqer (20) and Ayman
(18). The Israeli soldiers ordered all of fishermen on both boats to
take off their clothes, jumped into the water and swim towards the two
gunboats. The Israeli soldiers roped the two boats with the gunboats
and took them to an unknown destination.
At approximately 06:30
on the same day, two Israeli gunboats surrounded two fishing boats
sailing only 300 meters off the shore. The gunboats then heavily opened
fire at the boats; one of which belongs to As'ad Mohammed Mohammed
al-Sultan (52) and manned by the owner and Khaled Mahmoud Ahmed
al-Sultan while the other belongs to Mahmoud Ahmed 'Abdullah al-Sultan
(47) and was manned by his two sons, Mohammed (23) and Ayman (15). The
Israeli soldiers ordered all of fishermen on both boats to take off
their clothes, jumped into the water and swim towards the two gunboats.
The Israeli soldiers roped the two boats with the gunboats and took
them to an unknown destination.
At approximately 08:10
on the same day, two Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing boat sailing
within 1 nautical mile after opening fire at it. This boat belongs to
Kamel Adib Mahmoud al-Anqah (64) and was manned at that time with Ahmed
Mohammed Mohammed Zayed (32) and his brother Ibrahim (21). The Israeli
soldiers ordered all of fishermen on both boats to take off their
clothes, jumped into the water and swim towards the two gunboats. The
Israeli soldiers roped the two boats with the gunboats and took them to
an unknown destination.
It should be mentioned that during these attacks, the fishermen lost dozens of their fishing equipment and tools.
PCHR
strongly condemns the new Israeli attack against Palestinian fishermen
and their property. PCHR also considers that attack as a grave violation
of the fishermen’s right to sail and fish freely and to protect their
property in the Gaza waters. Moreover, PCHR believes that such attacks
against Palestinian fishermen constitute a form of collective punishment
against them which aims to target fishermen and their livelihood.
Furthermore, PCHR calls upon the international community to provide
protection for Palestinian fishermen and their right to sail and fish
freely, and to stop all forms of collective punishment against fishermen
and their property which violate the international humanitarian law and
the international human rights law.
Public Document
******************************
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment