Israeli naval forces continue perpetrating grave and systematic violations against Palestinian fishermen sailing off the Gaza coast. Al Mezan periodically records Israel’s harassment of Gaza fishermen in Palestinian territorial waters, including the recurrent attacks, arbitrary arrests, seizure of fishing boats and equipment, and the use of live ammunition against them. These practices have rendered fishing off the Gaza coast a dangerous occupation with inherent risk to life and security. In the most recent incident, the Israeli navy arrested five fishermen and confiscated their fishing boat off the coast of Beit Lahiya, in the North Gaza District.

According to Al Mezan’s field investigation, at approximately 11:30 pm on Wednesday, 26 October 2022, the Israeli navy opened fire and surrounded a fishing boat sailing off the coast of Beit Lahiya. The boat was carrying five fishermen: Ahmed Mohammed al-Hissi, 40, Abdelmalek Mohammed al-Hissi, 25, Mohannad Mohammed al-Hissi, 19, Fares Murad al-Hissi, 43, and Mahmoud Mohammed al-Hessi, 29—all residents of the North Gaza District. They were arbitrarily arrested, and their boat was confiscated by Israeli authorities.

Al Mezan’s documentation shows that since the beginning of 2022, the Israeli navy has carried out 402 attacks against Palestinian fishermen, injuring 19 (including three children), arbitrarily arresting 54 fishers (including seven children), and confiscating 19 fishing boats. It must also be noted that Israeli authorities still ban the entry of necessary fishing materials and equipment to the Strip as part of their settler-colonial closure against Gaza.

Al Mezan calls for the immediate release of the five fishermen and the return of the confiscated boat. Al Mezan strongly condemns Israel’s continuous unwarranted and illegal practices against Palestinian fishers, which are part of Israel’s unlawful closure policy that amounts to a prohibited collective punishment under international law and represents inhumane acts that constitute the crime of apartheid under the 1973 Apartheid Convention.

Al Mezan also reiterates its calls on the international community—including the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions—to uphold their obligations vis-a-vis the protected Palestinian people and pressure Israel to end its closure on the Gaza Strip and stop its systematic violations against the civilian population, including fishermen.