Israeli gunboats attack fishermen and arrest 2 in Gaza

Israeli gunboats Tuesday opened fire at Palestinian fishermen off Gaza City coast and arrested them in the Gaza sea, according to local sources. Witnesses said that the navy fired at the fishermen’s boat, cordoned it and ordered the fishermen to take off their clothing and swim towards the navy’s boat. Israeli forces confiscated the boat, handcuffed and blindfolded the fishermen, who are from Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, then led them to Ashdod port. The two fishermen are still detained. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemned the Israeli Navy's escalation of attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip and expressed deep concern for such escalation. “This incident occurred at approximately one nautical mile, which is within the 6-nautical-mile limit allowed by the Israeli forces for the Palestinian fishermen to sail and fish at, under the terms of the truce deal signed between Israel and the Palestinians under Egyptian and international auspices on 22 November 2012,” said PCHR.