Israel kills fisherman in Gaza

The Israeli Navy has shot and killed a Palestinian fisherman off the coast of the Gaza Strip currently under a crippling naval blockade.

The victim identified as Mohammed Bakr died by a bullet shot in the sea north of the Gaza Strip, head of the Palestinian territory’s emergency services, Adham Abu Selmiya, told AFP on Friday.

An Israeli military spokeswoman claimed the Palestinian fisherman was in restricted waters “heading towards Israel.”

The coastal enclave has been under siege since June 2007. Israeli Navy vessels regularly open fire on Palestinian fishing boats to prevent them from venturing more than a few kilometers from the shore.

The 1.5 million impoverished people of Gaza are in dire need of supplies due to the blockade. Fishing remains a staple source of livelihood for the besieged people.