Israeli gunboats fire at Palestinian fishing boats

[ 19/06/2013 - 09:23 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Israeli navy gunboats opened heavy machinegun fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza Strip on Tuesday night. Nizar Ayyash, the head of the syndicate of fishermen, told the PIC reporter that the navy’s shooting has turned into a daily practice targeting fishing boats approaching the six nautical miles limit. He charged that despite the allowed area, yet the Israeli navy fires at any fishing boat approaching five and a half nautical miles and chases away fishermen. Ayyash pointed out that Israel re-allowed fishing at that area after end of the fishing season starting early April to the end of May. Fishermen have thus lost their busy working season and returned to fishing small quantities, he concluded.