Summary Palestinian health official says a fisherman has been shot dead off the coast of Gaza by Israelis.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: (AP) - A Palestinian health official says a fisherman has been shot dead off the coast of Gaza by Israeli naval forces.
Ashraf al-Kidra says the fisherman was shot Saturday in an Israeli naval attack in which two other Gaza fishermen were arrested as well. He identified the victim as 32-year-old Tawfiq Abu Riala.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Israel maintains a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip to prevent the smuggling of weapons to the coastal strip s Islamic Hamas leaders and other militant groups that operate in the territory.
Following last summer s war in Gaza, Israel agreed to double a permitted fishing zone for Gazans up to six nautical miles. It recently also loosened restrictions to allow Gaza fishermen to export their catch to the West Bank.
