ISRAELI OCCUPATION NAVY VESSELS OPEN FIRE AT PALESTINIAN FISHING BOATS

Gaza, 28 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/19 January 2015 (MINA) – Israeli occupation navy vessels opened heavy machinegun fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Gaza Strip on Sunday (18/1).

Nizar Ayyash, head of the Palestinian fishermen syndicate in Gaza, said Israeli naval boats targeted Palestinian fishermen while sailing off the shores of Gaza. No casualties were reported, Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

He added the Israeli navy claimed that the fishermen exceeded the allowed six-nautical-mile fishing zone in accordance with the ceasefire agreement reached with Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza under Egyptian mediation.

No immediate comment on the incident has been issued yet by the Israeli army.

Palestinian officials said Israeli army and navy forces almost daily open gunfire in Gaza targeting fishing boats and farming lands at the borders in flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement.

A long-term ceasefire was reached on August 26, 2014 between Israelis and Palestinians under Egyptian mediation. The ceasefire put an end to the Israeli aggression which lasted for 51 days, killed more than two thousand Palestinians, wounded eleven thousand others and destroyed hundreds of houses.  (T/P006/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)