Israelis detain 7 Palestinian fishermen

The Israeli navy forces have detained at least seven Palestinian fishermen after opening fire on them off northern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli navy arrested the fishermen off the coast of Gaza City, on Wednesday.

“The Israeli navy arrested seven fishermen from one family in Sudaniya in the sea off northern Gaza,” the head of the Gaza fishermen’s syndicate, Nizar Ayash, said.

An unnamed employee of a human rights group also said Israeli forces had forced a boat of fishermen “from the Bakr family to stop, detained them, and dragged the boat to an unknown location.”

The Israeli army also confirmed the incident, saying that the seven Palestinians in two vessels had sailed beyond the six-nautical mile fishing limit, which is part of Tel Aviv’s naval blockade.

“This morning, two vessels sailed beyond the permitted fishing zone,” a spokeswoman for the Israeli army said.

The Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on the fishermen, leaving one injured. The fishermen were all taken in for questioning.

According to Gaza’s fishermen syndicate, Israel has on numerous occasions violated a cease-fire agreement signed on August 26, following its 51-day war on the Gaza Strip, which killed nearly 2,140 Palestinians and injured thousands of others.

“Since signing the truce, the Israeli army has violated (the agreement) eight times, arresting fishermen and destroying a giant fishing boat, in addition to firing at fishermen on a daily basis,” the syndicate’s leader added.

Under the cease-fire agreement, Tel Aviv said it would immediately expand the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast and allow fishermen to sail as far as six nautical miles from shore.

Tel Aviv’s actions have significantly damaged Gaza’s fishing industry.

SZH/AB/SS