Israeli forces fire at Palestinian farmers, shepherds in Gaza

Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen and shepherds in separate incidents in the south of the besieged Gaza Strip on Friday and Saturday.

Israeli navy ships shot at and sunk a lighting boat belonging to a Palestinian fisherman off the coast of Rafah, according to Wafa, the Palestinian Authority's news agency. No injuries were reported.

On Friday, Israeli soldiers shot at Palestinian shepherds on land in the east of the city of Deir Al-Balah, Wafa said.

The soldiers fired tear gas bombs toward the shepherds, forcing them to disperse.

Israel prevents Palestinian landowners and shepherds from cultivating their lands near the Israeli border fence and tries to create a buffer zone at the expense of Palestinians.

The Israeli army regularly fires at Palestinians near the border fence with Gaza, including farmers, to keep them as far from the border as possible.

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.