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by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli Navy opened fire, on Wednesday morning, at a number of Palestinian fishing boats at the coasts of Khan Younis and Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Local sources reported that the army fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition at the fishing boats, and forced the fishermen to return to their docks.

The sources added that the Navy chased the fishermen despite the fact that they were in the allotted area allowed for Palestinian fishermen.

As part of the ceasefire agreement that ended the Israeli war on Gaza in November 2012, Palestinian fishermen were allowed to fish within 6 nautical miles off the Gaza coast.

191 Palestinians, including children, women and elderly, have been killed by Israeli military fire in Gaza in November, including those killed during the war, while the number of injured Palestinians in the same month reached 1492.

The Information Center of the Palestinian Ministry of Health Information reported that 48 children, including 16 under the age of five, have been killed by Israeli missiles and shells, in addition to 12 women and 20 elderly.

The Center added that 1492 Palestinians, including 533 children (195 under the age of 5), 254 women and 103 elderly have been injured by Israeli fire and shells. Furthermore, four Palestinians have been killed after the ceasefire agreement was reached, and 54 have been injured.

Under the Oslo peace deal signed with Israel in the mid-nineties, Palestinian fishermen are supposed to be allowed to fish in 20 nautical miles off the Gaza coast; after the second Intifada started in late September 2000 Israel prevented the fishermen from fishing, and then reduced their allotted area to only 3 nautical miles.

The Israeli Navy carried out numerous attacks against the fishermen leading to dozens of casualties, and repeatedly boarded the fishing boats and kidnapped dozens of fishermen.