Israel again reduces Palestinian fishing zone, as Gaza siege intensifies

The cut came just two days after Israel restored the limits to those set in April ahead of the country's general election.

Human rights groups note that previous extensions to 15 nautical miles still falls short of the 20 nautical miles agreed under the Oslo accords of the 1990s.

A decision was taken on Wednesday evening to reduce the fishing zone off the Gaza Strip to 10 nautical miles until further notice, said COGAT, the defence ministry unit that oversees such regulations.

The decision was taken after the alleged launch of incendiary balloons from Gaza towards Israel, it added, with activists saying the measure was an act of collective punishment.

Israel banned fishing completely earlier this month, but lifted the ban with a restriction of up to 12 nautical miles following a truce.

The 15-nautical-mile limit that had been restored on Tuesday was the largest allowed in years by Israel, which has launched three bloody military campaigns on Gaza in the past decade.

Israeli authorities have not said whether the 15-mile limit was one of the understandings reached as part of the 6 May ceasefire in Gaza but Israel media reported on Monday that it was.

The additional nautical miles are important to Gaza fishermen as they bring more valuable, deeper water species within reach.

Twenty-five Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed this month.