GAZA, February 25, 2018 (WAFA) – A Palestinian fisherman Sunday was fatally shot after Israeli naval forces opened fire on a fishing boat despite sailing within the unilaterally designated fishing zone offshore al-Sudaniya area, northwest of Gaza city, said sources.

Israeli navy opened heavy fire on a Palestinian fishing boat carrying three fishermen, shooting and critically injuring one of them before he succumbed to his wounds shortly after.

The rest were detained by the navy forces.

Israeli army spokesperson claimed the boat exceeded the permitted area for fishing.

Israeli navy and troops routinely open fire on Palestinian fishermen sailing within the six-nautical-miles zone and farmlands along the border, flagrantly violating the ceasefire deal that was reached in August 2014.

The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords.

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), all Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen have taken place within the distance of six nautical miles, which it said “proves that Israeli forces‘ policies aim to tighten restrictions on the Gaza Strip‘s fishermen and their livelihoods.”

T.R.