Israeli naval forces reportedly shot and wounded a Palestinian fisherman, on Wednesday, off the northern coast of the tiny Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip.
Local media outlets reported that at least one Palestinian fisherman was shot and wounded earlier on Wednesday morning, after naval Israeli forces chased and intercepted a group of fishermen, off the northern coast of Gaza, while the latter were trying to earn a living.
The sources said that the wounded fisherman, not identified at the time of this report, was hit with a rubber-coated steel bullet and that his fellows on-board, survived the heavy Israeli navy shooting.
Medical sources in the northern Sudaniya area, where the shooting took place, described the injury as moderate and that the man is now receiving medical care at a local hospital.
Israeli naval authorities have been enforcing a sea blockade on Gaza’s 40-km-length coast, since 2007. The blockade has restricted fishing for four thousand Palestinian fishermen in Gaza, shrinking the fishing zone from 25 nautical miles, down to only 6 to 9 nautical miles, off shore.
Since then, Israeli naval forces have reportedly intercepted and attacked Palestinian fishing boats, putting the lives of fishermen at risk.
A handful of fishermen have been reportedly killed, dozens of others injured and hundreds more abducted and released after being detained by Israeli authorities.
Over the past couple of years, Israel has at times eased the sea blockade by allowing fishing within 15 nautical miles, in some areas of the Gaza coast.
Israeli fishing restrictions have remained in place, causing thousands of Gaza fishermen great hardship.
