Israeli Navy opens fire at Palestinian fishermen’s boats

Israeli naval boats opened heavy machine fire at Palestinian fishermen’s boats on June 5 causing financial damages to at least one boat, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

The attacked boats were sailing within the 6-nautical miles allowed fishing zone offshore al-Sudaniya area to the northwest of Gaza city, the agency reported.

The fishermen were not detained but were forced to return back to shore for fear of being injured or killed.

This incident is the latest in a series of breaches of a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and armed Palestinian groups in august 2014, following 51 days of aggression on the Gaza Strip.

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), all Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen have taken place within the distance of six nautical miles, which it said “proves that Israeli forces’ policies aim to tighten restrictions on the Gaza Strip’s fishermen and their livelihoods.”

Israeli authorities last month expanded the fishing zone designated for Palestinian fishermen to nine nautical miles in the southern Gaza Strip, and retained the six mile zone in the north. However, fishermen regularly report detentions, live fire, and boat confiscation within these areas, the news agency said.