Israeli navy gunboats opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Gaza Thursday morning.
Nizar Ayyash, chairman of the Palestinian fishermen’s union in Gaza, said there were no casualties but that several boats were damaged in the attack.
Witnesses near the shores of Gaza City said that Thursday’s attack forced the fishing boats to return.
Under the cease-fire agreement reached in Cairo that put an end to Israel’s 50-day war against Gaza in July and August, Israel said it would immediately expand the fishing zone off of Gaza’s coast and allow fishermen to sail as far as six nautical miles from shore.
Gaza fishermen said that Israeli naval forces accused them of violating the truce Thursday but that in reality the Tel Aviv regime has violated the agreement with the Palestinians any number of times.
The fishermen contend that the Israeli military actions have significantly damaged Gaza’s fishing industry.
On Dec. 3, a fisherman identified as 32-year-old Fakher Nizar Abu Riyaleh was critically injured in the head by shrapnel from Israeli shells. He was taken to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to receive medical treatment.
The Gaza Strip has been under Israel’s blockade since June 2007. The blockade has caused a decline in the standard of living for Palestinians, as well as increased unemployment and poverty.
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