Gaza fishermen hope for new start with expanded zone
Palestinians are pleased with the Israeli army's decision to expand the Gaza Strip fishing zone, though fishermen there still have to recover from years of hardship that have taken their toll.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On April 1, Israel expanded the Gaza Strip fishing zone to a maximum of 15 nautical miles offshore — the longest distance allowed for Gazan fishermen since the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993.
On his official Facebook page, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the distance falls within the scope of Israel’s civil policy to ease the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Adraee warned that no fisherman will be allowed to the cross the limits agreed upon.
The measure, highly welcomed by Palestinians, follows the recently reached Egyptian-led truce between Hamas and Israel. It also coincides with the start of the fishing season in Gaza from April to June.
In Israel, however, the zone expansion was heavily criticized. On April 1, Oded Forer, a Knesset member representing the Yisrael Beitenu party, slammed the measure as a security breach that could endanger Israeli coastal residents. He also said the extension will encourage attempts to smuggle weapons to Hamas.
