Israeli gunboats fire at Gaza fishermen

Israeli gunboats continue to harass and fire at Palestinian fishermen, despite the ceasefire which brought an end to Israel’s offensive against the Gaza Strip last month. In the latest incident off the Gaza coast on Monday, an Israeli vessel fired at a fishing boat, injuring the fisherman and detaining his son. The wounded man was named as Mas’ad Bakr, aged 36; he was taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon where his injuries are said to be “moderate”.

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The Israeli gunboat towed Mr. Bakr’s boat, along with his son Mohamed, 20, to an unknown destination. Palestinian officials in Gaza have not yet given details as to his whereabouts.

According to the ceasefire agreement reached between Hamas and Israel which ended the latest Israeli aggression against Gaza, Palestinian fishermen are supposed to be allowed to sail up to six miles offshore to cast their nets. The internationally-recognised territorial waters of Gaza are, like anywhere else, set at a 12 mile limit, but the Israelis have imposed a 3 mile limit since 2006 as part of their blockade of the Gaza Strip.