Israeli navy ships, on Sunday morning, opened fire towards Palestinian fishing boats sailing off the northern coast of the Gaza Strip, Alray Agency reported.
Several Israeli naval gunships, off the coast of al-Sudania and al-Waha districts, opened gunfire towards Palestinian fishermen’s boats.
The fishermen were sailing within the Israeli dictated fishing zone, between 6 and 9 nautical miles off the coast.
No injuries among the fishermen were reported.
Under the Oslo Peace Accords, signed by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Israel in 1993, Israel is obligated to permit fishing up to 20 nautical miles off the coast of the besieged coastal strip, in order to access the area rich in fish.
According to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem;
Before it imposed the blockade on Gaza, Israel used to permit fishing up to 12 nautical miles from shore. Since imposing the blockade, , in 2007, Israel has changed the limits of the permitted fishing zone several times a year. As of 31 Dec. 2018 it was nine nautical miles in the area south of Gaza City and six nautical miles in the area from Gaza City and northwards, up to the maritime boundary with Israel. Limiting the permitted fishing zone reduces the variety and quantity of available fish, harming the livelihood of Gazan fishermen.
~ Alray, B’Tselem
