GAZA, Sunday, July 3, 2022 (WAFA) – The Israeli occupation's navy attacked Palestinian fishermen and tried to ram into one of their boats today while sailing approximately three miles from Gaza City, forcing them to return to the shore, according to local sources.
WAFA correspondent said the Israeli navy fired live bullets towards fishermen sailing approximately three miles away from the Al-Sudania beach in Gaza, forcing them to stop fishing and return to the shore.
He said some of the fishermen who came under the Israeli navy attack are still trying to pull a boat that was moderately damaged as a result of the attack.
Israeli naval forces and their gunboats have long been harassing fishermen in Gaza, shooting at them, damaging their boats and arresting some of them in many occasions. In some incidents, fishermen were injured or even killed during gunfire attacks by the Israeli navy.
In addition to attacking fishermen, Israel regularly bans boats from accessing the water and reduces the fishing zone which Palestinians from Gaza can access.
Israeli occupation authorities have been enforcing a blockade from the land, air and sea on the Gaza Strip since 2007.
The blockade has restricted fishing for the 3,700 registered fishermen in Gaza – the majority of whom live below the poverty line by shrinking the fishing zone from 25 nautical miles, down to only six to nine nautical miles, according to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.
M.N
