An Israeli navy officer has said that the fishing zone in Gaza waters should not be expanded to more than 15 nautical miles according to Maariv newspaper.
The Israeli officer claimed that allowing a fishing zone exceeding 15 nautical miles in Gaza sea would pose a threat to the Israeli gas extraction stations there.
He claimed that expanding the fishing area would “allow maritime infiltration into Israel and weapons smuggling into Gaza.”
The Israeli occupation navy prevents Palestinian fishermen from sailing more than 15 nautical miles in Gaza sea whose coastline does not exceed 40 km. In the northern area fishermen are allowed to sail within 6 nautical miles only.
The Israeli naval forces on a daily basis attack Gaza fishermen with shootings and arrests or force them to sail back to the shore.
About 4000 Palestinians work in the fishing profession in besieged Gaza in addition to 1500 workers. They are the breadwinners for about 60000 people. Almost all of them live below the poverty line due to Israeli restrictions.
The Oslo Accords signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli occupation on 13 September 1993 provides that fishermen are allowed to sail 20 nautical miles along the Gaza Strip shore.
