ISRAELI OCCUPATION NAVY FIRES ON GAZA FISHERMEN

Gaza City, 22 Jumadi Akhir 1435/22 April 2014 (MINA) – Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen off Gaza shore on Monday.

“Three fishing boats sustained minor damage,” Nezar Ayash, spokesman for Gaza’s fishermen, told Anadolu Agency as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

No casualties were reported.

Israel allows fishing in a six-mile zone off the Gaza shore.

When it first imposed its blockade on the strip in 2006, Israel had specified a three-nautical-mile fishing zone for Palestinian fisherman.

Gaza fishermen say the measure has adversely impacted their business, complaining that their annual hauls of fish had since fallen from pre-blockade levels of some 4,000 tons to a current 1,500 tons.

Of the Gaza Strip’s 1.8 million inhabitants, roughly 40,000 earn their living through fishing, according to the Palestinian Fishermen’s Union.

On the same day, Israeli occupation launched several airstrikes on the central Gaza Strip on Monday, injuring two people, Hamas said in a statement.

Gaza’s Ministry of Interior said Israeli warplanes targeted a security facility in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp, injuring two security officers, according to Ma’an News Agency report.

Another airstrike hit a nearby livestock farm, causing material damage but no injuries, while a third strike targeted an open area in Deir al-Balah.

Israeli occupation warplanes also struck a target in Khan Younis, the ministry said. (T/P09/E01).

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).