GAZA, May 3, 2015 (WAFA) - Israeli naval boats Sunday opened heavy machine gunfire at Palestinian fishermen while sailing offshore the city of Gaza within the allowed the fishing zone, according to local sources.

WAFA correspondent said Israeli naval boats indiscriminately opened heavy machine gunfire at fishermen sailing within the unilaterally-imposed six-nautical-miles fishing zone offshore al-Sudaniya area, causing damage to several boats.

No injuries were reported among the fishermen.

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.

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 however failed to do so, repeatedly violating the ceasefire deal through opening fire on Palestinian fishermen within the fishing zone and reducing their intake.

Israel has imposed a tightened blockade since 2007 after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip from President Mahmoud Abbas’ security forces.

M.N./T.R.