Palestinian fishing boats under Israeli military fire

Palestinian fishing boats under Israeli military fire
Wed Mar 26, 2014 20:21:17

Israeli army warships have attacked and fired at Palestinian fishing boats off the southern coast of the besieged Gaza Strip.

Witnesses said Israeli forces fired at the boats near the city of Rafah, situated 30 kilometers (around 19 miles) south of Gaza City, early on Wednesday, injuring four fishermen.

The four fishermen were shifted to nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital, where medics said they have suffered moderate injuries.

On March 18, Israeli warships opened fire on several Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, forcing the fishermen to sail back to shore. There were no reports of casualties.

Palestinian boats are permitted to fish up to six nautical miles from the Gaza coast according to the terms of Israel's naval blockade on the impoverished enclave.

The fishing area was extended to six nautical miles from three on November 21, 2012, in the truce deal that ended an eight-day Israeli military assault on the Gaza Strip.

Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, an act which has caused a decline in the standard of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.

The apartheid regime of Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages and adequate healthcare and education.

SHI/SHI

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