A/HRC/24/30 Despite the apparent increase in access, some farmers were not prepared to risk cultivating anything other than low-yielding rain-fed crops, due to the lack of clarity and unpredictability of the situation. 16. During the reporting period, three Palestinians were killed and 56 were injured in Gaza, including 16 children. Thirty-seven were injured in the context of demonstrations or other civilian activities in the areas up to, and at times beyond, 300 metres from the fence.23 Several such incidents occurred on Fridays and, on some occasions, demonstrators threw stones at Israeli soldiers and their vehicles positioned across the fence. 24 In two separate cases, two 20-year-old men were killed close to the fence, one on 30 November 2012 east of the village of Al-Shouka,25 and the other one on 11 January 2013, in Jabalia, in the context of demonstrations. The latter was shot in his abdomen about 50 to 60 metres from the fence, which he continued to approach notwithstanding tear gas and warning shots fired by the IDF. He was reportedly unarmed and did not pose any apparent threat to Israeli soldiers. No rockets were being fired from Gaza around the time of the incident.26 17. On 21 March, IDF and COGAT announced that the ARA at sea would again be reduced to 3 nautical miles in response to rocket fire from Gaza.27 The ARA at sea was subsequently re-established at 6 nautical miles on 21 May 2013.28 The means used by the Israeli navy to enforce the ARA at sea continued to put fishermen at risk. Numerous incidents of warning shots fired towards fishermen who were within the imposed limits were recorded. Six fishermen were injured and 45 were detained 29 during the reporting period. Eight fishing boats were confiscated, 16 boats were damaged and the engines of nine boats, the fishing equipment of several boats and approximately 400 fishing nets were damaged by Israeli naval forces.30 18. On 21 January 2013, a boat with three Palestinian fishermen about 5 nautical miles from the shore was approached by an Israeli naval vessel and told to throw their catch back into the sea. Then they were told to take off their clothes, jump into the sea and swim to the Israeli vessel. Once aboard, they were given clothes, blindfolded, had their hands tied and were taken to Israel. After a medical examination and interrogation by the IDF, they were taken to the Erez crossing to return to Gaza.31 19. On 19 February 2013, a boat with six fishermen was 3 nautical miles from shore when two Israeli naval vessels approached. Once the naval vessels were around 50 metres from the Palestinians, the naval vessels started to shoot into the water in close vicinity of the Palestinians. The Israeli forces then shot with live ammunition towards the boat and damaged its front and engine. Two fishermen were hit in their legs with shrapnel. Shortly after, the naval vessels left the area.32 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Data provided by the Protection Cluster database. OHCHR monitored some of these cases. http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9092:weeklyreport-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-29-nov-05-dec2012&catid=84:weekly-2009&Itemid=183 Case monitored by OHCHR. See section II.B.3 below. “Briefing to the Security Council” (footnote 19 above). Exact figures are not available. Information gathered suggested that most of them were released within short periods of time. Information provided by the Union of Agricultural Work Committees. Case monitored by OHCHR. Idem. 7

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