The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday night imposed a naval blockade on the embattled Gaza Strip claiming attacks with incendiary balloons from the coastal enclave were not stopped.
In a statement the Israeli army said the naval blockade on Gaza would take place “until further notice” citing incendiary balloons as the reason for the measure.
Earlier on Wednesday helium-filled balloons carrying flaming materials from Gaza caused eight fires in southern Israel’s farmlands according to Israeli news reports.
The move came after Israel on Tuesday reduced the fishing zone it allowed in Gaza waters to six nautical miles after balloons landed in Israeli areas.
Young protesters from Gaza release incendiary kites or balloons into Israeli areas in response to the Israeli army’s use of armed force against the participants in the weekly March of Return rallies.
The Gaza Strip home to about two million people has been under blockade since 2007. Under the blockade Israel strictly limits exit and entry of people as well as goods inflicting a humanitarian crisis on the territory.
