GAZA CITY
By Mustafa Haboosh
Israeli naval forces have detained four Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip, a spokesman for Gaza's fishermen said Monday.
"Three Israeli gunboats surrounded a Palestinian fishing boat and detained four fishermen," Nizar Ayash, head of Gaza's Palestinian Fishermen's Union, told Anadolu Agency.
There was no comment from the Israeli army.
Late last month, Israel allowed Palestinian fishermen to ply their trade up to six nautical miles off the coast of the Gaza Strip – as opposed to only three miles allowed before Israel's recent onslaught on the territory.
The Palestinian Agriculture Ministry, however, said earlier this month that the Israeli navy reduced the fishing zone to five nautical miles in breach of a recently-concluded cease-fire agreement.
The cease-fire went into effect late last month, ending 51 days of relentless Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave, which saw 2,157 Palestinians killed – the vast majority of them civilians – and nearly 11,000 injured.
Over the course of Israel's offensive, initially launched with the stated aim of ending rocket fire from Gaza, at least 72 Israelis – 67 soldiers and five civilians – were killed, according to Israeli figures.
One day before Israel's military offensive began on July 7, the Israeli navy banned fishing off the Gaza coast altogether.
According to Ayyash, some 50,000 Gazans earn their living from the fishing business. He estimated their combined losses during Israel's 51-day assault at more than $6 million.
Ever since Hamas – which Israel deems a "terrorist" organization – won Gaza's 2006 legislative polls, Israel has imposed a tight land and sea blockade on the coastal strip.
The self-proclaimed Jewish state tightened the blockade further after Hamas took control of the enclave one year later.
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