An Israeli Navy ship seized control of a Palestinian fishing boat from the Gaza Strip that entered Israel’s territorial waters on Monday. The boat did not respond to calls for it to halt nor to warning shots fired by soldiers.
Naval officers escorted the boat to the Ashdod port and five Palestinians who were on board were transferred to a security facility for questioning, the Ynet news site reported.
Late last month, Israel returned 15 fishing boats it commandeered in recent years off the coast of the Gaza Strip, the army said. Palestinian fishermen said it was the first time Israel had given vessels back, and demanded the return of dozens more.
Around 4,000 fishermen work in Gaza, more than half of whom live below the poverty line. (READ MORE)
