Israeli navy arrests two fishermen off Gaza coast

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Israeli naval forces on Monday arrested two Palestinian fishermen off the northern coast of the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to a local official.

Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats and arrested two fishermen, Nizar Ayyash, head of Gaza’s fishermen union, told Anadolu Agency.

He identified the detainees as Hasan Zayed and Mohammed al-Sultan.

There was no comment from the Israeli military on the claim.

According to Palestinian figures, roughly 50,000 inhabitants of Gaza earn their living through fishing.

After Israel's 2014 onslaught against the Hamas-run Gaza Strip (in which more than 2,150 Palestinians were killed), Israel began allowing Palestinian fishermen to ply their trade up to six nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.

In May of last year, the Israeli authorities increased the limit to nine nautical miles.

Writing by Ali H. M.Abo Rezeg