[Wednesday at Dawn, March 5, 2014] Israeli Navy ships opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats close to the shore, near Gaza City, causing damage but no injuries.Local sources said that the navy fired three shells and dozens of rounds of live ammunition at shipping boats close to the Sudaniyya area, northwest of Gaza city, causing damage to several boats.
The fishermen sailed back to the shore, fearing additional Israeli attacks against them and their boats.
The Israeli Navy frequently attacks Palestinian fishing boats in Palestinian territorial waters, in the besieged and impoverished coastal region.
The fishermen are supposed to be allowed to fish within six nautical miles, but are attacked even while docked at the shore.
Last week, the Navy attacked several Palestinian boats, and opened fire at them at least twice.
When Israel imposed the illegal siege on Gaza, in 2006, the fishermen were limited to only three nautical miles off the Gaza shore.
Yet, the fishermen and their boats are constantly attacked, even within those three miles, leading to dozens of casualties and excessive property damage. Dozens of Palestinian fishermen have been kidnapped by soldiers, in addition.
As part of the ceasefire agreement in November 2012, Israel agreed to allow the Palestinians to fish within six nautical miles, but unilaterally decreased the allotted area to three miles.
Last May, Israel decided to allow the fishermen to fish within six nautical miles, but the Navy continued to attack them even within the three nautical miles.
Under the Oslo accords of the mid-nineties, the Palestinians are supposed to be allowed to fish within 20 nautical miles off the Gaza shore, but Tel Aviv has constantly violated the agreement.
