The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday decided to again allow Palestinian fisherman to work off the Gaza coast up to 15 nautical miles.
According to the fishermen committees in Gaza the fishing zone will return to 15 nautical miles as of Thursday 04:00 am.
During the last Israeli military escalation the Israeli army had closed the Beit Hanoun (Erez) and Karam Abu Salem border crossings in Gaza and reduced the fishing zone to six nautical miles before deciding to close the entire fishing area.
However the Israeli decision to lift those sanctions on Gaza came following a security assessment of the situation.
“Following a new situation assessment — and assuming the security stability remains — it was decided to return to service the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings beginning tomorrow (Thursday) morning. In addition the fishing zone will return to 15 nautical miles” Israel’s military liaison to the Palestinians said in a statement.
Israel has systematically used the opening and closing of these crossings and the shortening and extending of the fishing zone over long years as alternately penalty and reward for the embattled Gaza Strip which many human rights groups decry as a form of mass punishment.
