Israeli Navy Fires On Gaza Fishing Boats

Israeli naval forces on Sunday opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip, damaging two boats, a Palestinian unionist has said.



"Israeli gunboats opened fire toward a group of Palestinian boats in the north of the Gaza Strip," Nizar Ayash, the head of Gaza's Palestinian Fishermen's Union, told The Anadolu Agency.



No casualties were reported, but the attack left two fishing boats with partial damage, he added.



"The Israeli forces shot at Palestinian fishing boats under the pretext that they go beyond fishing space specified for them," Ayash said.



There has been no comment from the Israeli army on Ayash's assertion.



In late August, Israel allowed Palestinian fishermen to ply their trade up to six nautical miles off the coast of the Gaza Strip – as opposed to three miles previously.



A cease-fire reached between Israel and Palestinian factions on August 26 ended 51 days of relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which killed over 2,160 Palestinians.



According to Ayyash, some 50,000 Gazans earn their living from the fishing business.



He estimated their combined losses during Israel's recent war at more than $6 million.



Ever since Hamas – which Israel deems a "terrorist" organization – won the 2006 legislative polls, Israel has imposed a tight land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip.



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