An IDF boat patrolling the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday morning was shot at by local Arabs. No one was hurt. The incident began when Arab fishing boats had strayed outside the permitted fishing zone. The Israeli Navy boat called on the suspects to get back and followed the suspect apprehension protocol. During the operation one of the suspects was shot and lightly injured and taken for medical treatment in Ashdod. The other suspects drove their fishing boat back to the permitted zone.
The head of the local Fishermen Union, Nizar Ayyash, told Ma’an that the Israeli Navy detained Abed al-Aziz Saadallah off the coast of Beit Lahiya after opening “heavy fire” at fishing boats.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Office responded that the fisherman was detained after deviating from the “designated fishing zone,” and was also reportedly wounded by Israeli fire. According to the IDF, the Naval force told the fishermen to stop, and shot warning shots into the air. When the boats failed to stop, the Naval force shot towards the vessels, wounding one Arab. The IDF Spokesperson added that shots were fired from the northern shore of the Gaza Strip at the Israeli naval force.