Israel reduces fishing zone off Gaza coast

The Israeli authorities have reduced the fishing zone to only six nautical miles off the Gaza coast, Head of the Fishermen Syndicate Nizar Ayyash said on Sunday.

“We were officially informed about the reduction through the Palestinian Authority,” Ayyash said.

On 3 April, Israel said it had expanded the fishing zone from six nautical miles to nine in certain areas across the Gaza coast.

Under to the Oslo Accords, Israel agreed to allow fishermen in Gaza to operate freely in a zone extending 20 nautical miles off the coast.

Restrictions have affected the fishing industry substantially, with almost daily incidents of Israeli soldiers arresting fishermen, shooting at boats and confiscating them.