GAZA, May 10, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli naval boats Sunday opened gunfire at Palestinian fishermen offshore the coast of al-Sudaniya, northwest of Gaza, according to local sources.

According to WAFA reporter, Israeli naval boats opened heavy gunfire on fishermen sailing within the unilaterally-imposed six-nautical-miles fishing zone offshore al-Sudaniya, forcing the fishermen to sail back to the shore.

Earlier, the navy arrested two fishermen after attacking their boats. The fishermen, identified as Hatem Sultan, 33, and Mohammad Ameen Sultan, 25, were led to the Israeli seaport of Ashdod.

Israeli naval boats routinely open fire on Palestinian fishermen sailing within the six-nautical-miles zone and farmlands along the border, flagrantly violating the ceasefire deal.

Israel and the Palestinian factions signed a ceasefire deal on August 26, 2015 ending the latest deadly Israeli onslaught on Gaza that claimed the lives of over 2,200 people, overwhelmingly civilians.

The ceasefire deal stipulated that Israel would immediately  ease the blockade imposed on the strip and expand the fishing zone off Gaza's coast, allowing fishermen to sail as far as six nautical miles from shore, and would continue to expand the area gradually. Israel has nevertheless failed to do so.

M.N/T.R