Israel expands Gaza fishing zone

Israel announced an expansion of the designated fishing zone off Gaza from 3 to 6 nautical miles in the Mediterranean Sea, the Israeli army said. The move was approved by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon. Maj.Gen. Eitan Dangot, the coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories, informed senior Palestinian and Egyptian officials of the decision, the army said in a statement Tuesday. Israel restricted the designated fishing zone in March in response to rocket attacks on southern Israel. Israel has imposed a blockade on Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip since Hamas took control of the area in 2007. The Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians in 1993 stipulated that Israel would permit a 20-nautical mile fishing zone off Gaza, the Ma'an news agency said.