Israeli naval forces on Saturday detained two Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian source has said.
The two fishermen were detained as they did their work off the coast of the blockade coastal territory, Nizar Ayyash, the head the fishermen’s union in Gaza, told Anadolu Agency.
He said the Israeli forces claimed that the fishermen got beyond the space specified by Israel for Palestinian fishing activities.
Israel has not officially commented on the detention of the two fishermen.
In late August of 2014, Israel allowed Palestinian fishermen to ply their trade up to six nautical miles off the coast of the Gaza Strip as opposed to three miles previously.
A cease-fire reached between Israel and Palestinian factions on Aug. 26 of 2014 ended 51 days of relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which killed over 2,160 Palestinians.
According to Ayyash, some 50,000 Gazans earn their living from the fishing business.
He estimated their combined losses during Israel’s recent war at more than $6 million.
Ever since Hamas which Israel deems a terrorist organization won the 2006 legislative polls, Israel has imposed a tight land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip.
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