ISRAELI TROOPS OPEN FIRE AT PALESTINIAN FARMERS ACROSS GAZA BORDER

Photo: Ma'an News Agency — **Israeli occupation troops opened fire at Palestinian fields while farmers were tending their lands in southern Gaza Strip near Khan Younis.** (Photo: Ma’an)

Gaza, 25 Rabiul Awwal 1436/16 January 2015 (MINA) – Israeli occupation troops stationed in towers along the borders with the southern Gaza Strip near Khan Younis opened fire on Thursday at Palestinian fields while farmers were tending their lands, witnesses told Ma’an.

The Israeli soldiers reportedly fired from heavy machine guns at Palestinian fields in the outskirts of Khuza, al-Farahin and al-Qarara in eastern Khan Younis. No injuries have been reported but the farmers were forced to immediately leave their fields, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Israeli soldiers open fire across the borders almost every day because Palestinians allegedly come too close to a border fence. In many cases Palestinian farmers have been killed or injured.

Separately, Israeli soldiers at Erez crossing in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip detained a Gaza merchant as he tried to pass through the crossing. Locals identified him as Hassan Shirafi. (T/P010/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)