Explosion on Gaza fishing boat kills 3 Palestinian anglers

Three Palestinian fishermen were killed on Sunday after a blast ripped through their boat off the Gaza shore.

1 min read

07 March, 2021

Israel has often targeted fishermen's boats off Gaza. [Getty]

Three Palestinian fishermen were killed Sunday after a blast ripped through their boat off the Gaza shore, officials said.

The anglers - two brothers and a cousin - were plying their trade off the coast of the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip when the explosion happened, said Nezar Ayyash, of the association that represents fishermen.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.

Palestinian media reports blamed Israeli navy fire, but the Israeli military said it was not involved in this incident. The Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza said it opened an investigation.

A committee for documenting violations of the occupation of the Gaza strip said the fishermen were killed by missile strikes, Ma'an News Agency reported.

Israel has often targeted fishermen's boats off Gaza, where it has imposed a suffocating blockade since 2007. It has prevented fishermen from carrying out their work with live fire and water cannons and by tearing fishing nets and damaging engines.

A number of fishermen have been killed or injured as a result.

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