GAZA, July 23, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces Saturday opened its heavy machine gunfire toward Palestinian homes and agricultural land along the borderline area to the east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza Strip.

Soldiers Stationed at watchtowers along the borders with Israel resumed their attacks against Palestinian homes and land to the east of Khan Younis in a blatant breach of a 2014 ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza in August 2014, following 51 days of bloody aggression on the Strip.

to be noted, ‘Most of Gaza’s fruitful farmlands are located along the border fence with Israel, depriving the Strip of its major food basket. The border farmlands are also the only source of income for many Palestinian households‘.

In its weekly report on Israeli human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian Territories, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) said the illegal closure, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

For nine consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world,” said PCHR.

“This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people,” it added.

T.R.