JERUSALEM, Aug 13 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israel said, it reduced Gaza Strip’s allowed fishing zone, following explosive balloons sent from the Palestinian enclave.
The permitted fishing zone off Gaza was reduced from 15 nautical miles (about 27.8 km) to eight nautical miles, according to a statement issued by the office of the Israeli coordinator of the government’s activities in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The measure will be imposed “until further notice,” the office said.
“The decision was made, in light of repeated terrorist acts by the Gaza Strip, against Israeli citizens in recent days, which constitute a violation of Israeli sovereignty,” the statement read.
Israeli war jets, helicopters and tanks struck overnight sites in Gaza, that belong to Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group that runs Gaza.
Over the past days, militants in Gaza, flew dozens of balloons attached with incendiary materials, sparking at least 60 fires in southern Israel, according to Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service.
Palestinian and Israeli media said, the balloons often aim to pressure Israel to allow the transfer of Qatari money to Gaza, amid an escalating financial and humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.– NNN-MA’AN
