GAZA, February 24, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli naval boats on Wednesday opened machine gunfire on Palestinian fishermen while sailing within the six-nautical-mile fishing zone offshore Gaza, according to WAFA correspondent.

The Israeli gunfire attack caused damage to some of the boats, yet no injuries were reported among the fishermen, who were forced to get back to the shore.

Israeli navy also targeted with gunfire Palestinian fishermen who were fishing offshore the central Gaza Strip. There were no reports of casualties.

Israeli navy routinely opens fire on Palestinian fishermen sailing within the six-nautical-mile zone, flagrantly violating the ceasefire deal that was reached in August 2014.

The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords.

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.”

Israel has imposed a tightened blockade since 2007 after Hamas won the democratic legislative election and took over power in the Strip.

M.N