Gaza Fishers: Shooting and Detention Incidents at Sea Continue

The Israeli navy enforces fishing limits by, among other means, opening live fire at fishing boats, resulting in casualties and damage; forcing fishers to jump into the sea and swim towards Israeli vessels, where they are detained; and confiscating boats and fishing equipment. These practices discourage some fishers from fully exploiting the permissible fishing area even when expanded.

On at least 248 occasions between January and October 2019, Israeli forces have opened fire in areas off the coast of Gaza while enforcing access restrictions; as a monthly average, this is roughly the same as in 2018.  While no fisher has been killed so far this year compared with four fatalities in 2018 (two by the Israeli navy and two by the Egyptian navy), 17 fishers, including two children, have been injured in shooting incidents versus 20 in all of last year. Another 33 fishers (including three children) have been detained since the start of 2019, a significant decline compared with 2018 (94 people).

In 2019, Israeli naval forces have also seized and/or damaged 19 fishing boats and fishing nets while enforcing the fishing limits. In a positive development in the first seven months of 2019, the Israeli authorities released 66 boats that had been seized in previous years; some of these boats were severely damaged or lacked engines when returned.  

Full Article
https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-s-fisheries-record-expansion-fishing-limit-and-relative-increase-fish-catch-shooting

Al Mezan Fact Sheet: The Human and Financial Losses of Fishing Under Occupation
https://www.mezan.org/en/uploads/files/15712153571134.pdf

PCHR Report: Israeli Attacks against Palestinian Fishermen (November 2017 – April 2019)
https://pchrgaza.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Fishermen-Report-2019.pdf

Gideon Levy: IOF Gunfire Left This Gaza Fisherman Blind
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-idf-gunfire-left-this-gaza-fisherman-blind-israel-won-t-let-him-get-treatment-1.7367129

Gideon Levy: Israel Condemned This Gazan Fisherman to Life in Eternal Darkness
https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/israel-condemned-this-gazan-fisherman-to-life-in-eternal-darkness-1.7946851