GAZA, Sunday, February 07, 2021 (WAFA) – The Israel occupation's navy today opened fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen as they were sailing off the coast of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, forcing them to return to shore.
WAFA correspondent said the Israeli navy fired live bullets and water cannons towards fishermen who were sailing approximately six nautical miles away from Khan Younis, forcing them to abandon their fishing trip and return home.
Israeli navy also attacked fishermen while sailing about three nautical miles from the shore of Al-Sudaniya area in Gaza City, forcing them to return to the shore.
No casualties were reported.
Israeli naval forces and their gunboats have long been harassing Gaza fishermen, shooting at them, damaging their boats and making arrests. Sometimes fishermen are injured or killed during gunfire attacks.
In addition to attacking fishermen, Israel regularly bans boats from accessing the water and reducing the fishing zone which Palestinians from Gaza can access.
Israeli naval authorities have been enforcing a naval blockade on Gaza's 40-kilometre-length coast since 2007.
The blockade has restricted fishing for the 3,700 registered fishermen in Gaza – the majority of whom live below the poverty line according to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem – by shrinking the fishing zone from 25 nautical miles, down to only six to nine nautical miles.
M.N
