Gaza: Israel navy shoots live rounds, tear gas at Palestinian fishermen

Israel's navy shot at Palestinian fishermen off besieged Gaza on Saturday, forcing them to head back to land, sources said.

The navy shot live rounds and tear gas at the Palestinians, who were six nautical miles off the coast, official Palestinian news agency Wafa cited its correspondent as saying.

It comes exactly a week after Israel's navy shot machine guns at Palestinian fishermen off Gaza, causing them to turn back out of concern for their safety or of being detained, according to sources.

Israel routinely abuses Palestinians in both the besieged Strip and the occupied West Bank, where local leaders were among "scores of Palestinians" wounded on Saturday.

Israeli troops used violence against a peaceful demonstration opposing illegal settlement building near Al-Dhahiriya, a city near Hebron, witnesses who spoke with Wafa said.

Tear gas and stun grenades were launched at participants in the sit-in, causing breathing problems and hitting local deputy mayor Nayef Makharza in the foot with a cannister, according to the witnesses.

They said Israeli forces had arrested mayor Bahjat Jabarin.

About 650,000 Israelis reside illegally in settlements in the Palestinian West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Many believe their presence makes prospects of an independent Palestinian state increasingly remote.

The lawmakers urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to assert diplomatic pressure on Israel to prevent the eviction of more than 1,000 Palestinians from villages in the occupied West Bank. https://t.co/wDBh5WLxOq

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While fishing is an important part of Gaza's economy that helps sustain thousands of families, Israel has placed tight restrictions on the industry.

As part of its siege of Gaza, which began in 2007, Israel limits the areas in which Palestinian fishing boats can operate – restrictions it often tightens.

The blockade has been slammed as a form of illegal collective punishment by rights groups.

There are around 1.5 million people in poverty in Gaza, which in May 2021 faced a brutal 11-day Israeli bombing campaign.

This killed over 250 Palestinians, while rocket fire from Hamas and other Gaza militants killed 13 people in Israel.